A 

s  K  h:  T  C  H 

STEIA    MISSIO:S". 

BY  THE 

Rev. 

JAMES   S.  DENNIS, 

MISSIONARY  IN  SYRIA 

NEW   YORK: 

Edward  0.  Jenkins  Pkinter,  20  North  William  Street. 

1872. 

^  ^^  ''^^  $/> 


..^ssnsrm 


'^ 


A    SKETCH 


SYRIA  MISSION, 


y 

REV.  JAMES  S.   DENNIS, 

MISSIONARY    m    SYRIA. 


CONTENTS. 


Map, 2 

I.   A  GLA>fCE   AT  THE    FlELD    AND    ITS    PeCTJ- 

LIARITIES, 3 

let.  Its  Geography  and  History. 
2d.    Its  People  and  Religions. 
^  3d.   Its  Difficulties  and  Encouragements 


n.  A  Statement  of  Progress  up  to  the 

Present  Time 14 

1st.  As  regards  Evangelistic  Work. 
2d.    As  regards  Education. 
•3d.    As  regards  Press  Work. 

in.  A  Glance  at  the  Present  Condition  and 
Future  Prospects  of  the  Mission...    30 


NEW    YORK: 

MISSICKN  HOUSE,  23  CENTRE  STREET. 
1872. 


J.of  Trwad 


MtSSfOM  FIEtO. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  SYRIA  MISSION.* 


The  object  of  tMs  pamphlet  is  to  bring  to  the  attention  of  its  readers  the 
Syria  Missi:)n  as  it  is  at  the  present  time.  Any  attempt  to  give  a  history  of 
this  interesting  field  would  require  more  space  than  is  desirable  in  this  pub- 
lication ;  those  desiiing  a  more  complete  historical  review  than  is  given 
here  are  referred  to  the  excellent  pamphlet  already  issued  from  the  j)en  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Laurie,  D.D.,  and  to  the  forthcoming  "History  of  the  Syria 
Mission,"  by  Rev.  Isaac  Bird,  soon  to  be  issued  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Publication. 

We  propose  herein  simply  to  group  together  in  a  condensed  and  con- 
nected review  the  sahent  facts  of  interest  which  mission  work  in  Syria 
presents,  and  if  possible  to  bring  the  field  more  vividly  and  clearly  before  the 
minds  of  its  friends  at  home.     This  plan  involves  : 

I.    A  GLA.NCE  AT  THE  FIELD  AND  ITS  PECULIARITIES. 
II.    A  STATEMENT  OF  PROGEESS  UP  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 
ni.    A    GLANCE    AT    THE     PRESENT     CONDITION   AND     FUTURE     PROSPECTS     OF    THE 
MISSION. 


THE   FIELD   AND   ITS   PECULIARITIES. 

1.  lis  Geography  and  Hidory. — The  geographical  Hmits  of  the  field, 
reach  from  Acre  on  the  sea  coast  northward  for  about  150  miles,  and 
extend  from  the  coast  inland  an  average  breadth  of  fifty  miles.  The 
prominent  and  interesting  feature  of  the  natural  scenery  of  the  Syrian 
coast,  as  thus  Hmited,  is  the  gi'and  Lebanon  range,  which  towers  in 
sublimity  and  beauty  along  nearly  the  entire  extent  of  the  mission  territory. 
Along  the  sea-coast  are  populous  cities,  and  the  western  slopes  of  Lebanon 
are  thickly  dotted  with  villages,  some  of  them  of  considerable  size.  For 
convenience  in  the  prosecution  of  missionary  operations  this  whole  field  is 
subdivided  into  four  smaller  fields,  named  respectively  after  the  prominent 
and  central  station  where  the  missionary  families  reside,  the  Beirut,  TripoH, 
Sidon,  and  Abeih  fields.     Beu-ut,  a  large  and  flourishing  city  of  80,000  ia- 

*  The  papers  relating  to  Syria  publislied  recently  in  the  Foreign  Missionary,  have 
been  largely  drawn  upon  in  the  preparation  of  this  sketch.  j.  s.  D. 


habitants,  the  sea-port  of  Damascus,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  an 
elegant  carriage  road  scaling  both  ranges  of  the  Lebanons,  is  the  central 
and  most  important  station  of  the  field  ;  twenty-five  miles  down  the  coast 
is  Sidon,  the  head-quarters  of  the  southern  work  ;  filfty  miles  up  the  coast 
is  Tripoli,  the  base  of  operations  in  the  northern  regions ;  whUe  the  moun- 
tain field  is  worked  from  Abeih,  a  pleasant  village  chnging  to  the  western 
slope  of  Lebanon,  2400  feet  above  the  sea,  and  located  in  a  south-easterly 
direction  from  Beirut,  fifteen  miles  distant. 

The  historical  associations  of  the  region  now  occupied  by  the  Syria  Mis- 
sion lead  us  back  through  the  centuries  until  history  is  lost  in  tradition,  and 
our  only  source  of  authentic  information  is  found  to  be  the  few  brief  hints 
given  us  in  the  early  chapters  of  Grenesis. 

This  narrow  plain  between  the  glittering  Lebanons  and  the  sea,  was  the  scene 
of  Phoenicia's  glory.  Yonder  is  Sidon,  of  which  we  read4n  the  10th  of  Gene- 
sis ;  just  there  is  Tyre,  sleeping  her  prophetic  sleep  amidst  the  ruins  of  ancient 
splendor,  which  for  1500  years  dazzled  the  world.  Two  thousand  years,  and 
over,  before  Christ,  she  was  born  of  royal  Sidon,  and  for  l,ong  centuries 
the  history  of  these  renowned  cities  reveals  a  record  of  brilliant  prosperity 
and  guilty  luxury,  which  not  even  the  dimness  of  those  early  ages  can 
obscure. 

Upon  many  of  the  "  high  places"  of  Lebanon  and  Hermon  are  imposing 
ruins  of  ancient  temples,  where,  no  doubt,  were  celebrated  the  tragic  and 
idolatrous  rites  of  heathenism.  The  fertile  plain  of  the  Buka'a  was  the 
home  of  idolatry  ;  the  magnificent  ruias  of  Baalbec  are,  no  doubt,  the 
lingering  rehcs  of  one  of  the  most  imposing  centres  of  sun-worship  which 
the  world  has  ever  seen.  Just  over  the  crests  of  Anti-Lebanon  is  Damas- 
cus, probably  the  most  ancient  city  of  which  the  world  can  now  boast.  As 
we  run  our  eye  up  and  down  the  coast,  we  can  recall  to  mind  Assyrian, 
Egyptian,  Babylonian,  Persian,  Grecian,  Eoman,  Arabian,  and  Tui-kish  con- 
querors, each  in  turn  marshalling  their  victorious  armies,  and  planting  their 
standards  upon  those  picturesque  shores.  Back  of  Tripoli,  upon  the  bleak 
heights,  may  still  be  found  a  grove  of  the  ancient  cedars  which  floiurished, 
no  doubt,  in  the  times  of  David  and  Solomon  ;  Avhile  the  very  earth  is  i^opu- 
lous  with  the  tombs  and  sarcophagi  of  past  generations.  In  the  gardens 
of  Sidon,  in  1854,  were  found  some  copper  pots  full  of  the  beautiful  gold 
coins  of  Phihp  of  Macedon  and  his  son  Alexander,  and  near  by,  in  1855,  was 
discovered  the  celebrated  sarcophagus  of  King  Ashmunazer,  son  of  Tabnith, 
son  of  Ashmunazer,  king  of  Sidon,  whose  Phoenician  inscription  is  the  long- 
est which  has  yet  come  to  light,  and  in  most  perfect  preservation.  Every 
step  we  take  in  this  richly  historic  region,  brings  us  into  contact  with  the 
relics  of  the  long  past.  It  is,  therefore,  a  field  deeply  interesting  and  sug- 
I  gestive  in  its  historical  associations.  Our  Lord  himself  once  trod  the  mis- 
'  sion  soil  of  Syria,  when  He  visited  the  coasts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  was  at 
Csesarea  Philippi.    The  heights  of  Hermon  above  the   latter   place,  most 


probably,  witnessed  His  Transfiguration.  Paul  touched  at  the  Syrian  sea-ports 
on  his  missionary  journeys.  This,  then,  is  sacredly  historic  soil,  and  a  tenderer 
interest  lingers  here  than  could  be  given  by  human  history  alone. 

2.  Its  People  and  Religions. — The  mission  is  in  the  heart  of  the  great 
Turkish  Empire,  Syi-ia  being  a  province  of  the  Ottoman  Empire,  and  gov- 
erned by  a  Turkish  Governor  General,  receiving  his  appointment  from  Con- 
stantinople, and  having  his  residence  at  Damascus.  Since  the  civil  wars 
of  18()0,  Mount  Lebanon  has  been  an  hidependent  Pashalic,  whose  governor 
is  selected  from  one  of  the  nominally  Christian  sects.  The  present  Governor, 
Franco  Pasha,  is  a  Maronite.  Although  there  is  a  diversity  of  nationalities 
throughout  the  field,  the  spoken  language  is  universally  the  Arabic  ;  all  mis- 
sionary operations  are  through  this  medium  of  communication.  The  popu- 
lation within  the  geographical  limits  of  the  field,  is  a  little  less  than  a  milHon  ; 
and^aTmore  complex,  fragmentary  and  antagonistic  million,  cannot  be  found 
in  any  other  single  spot  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Side  by  side,  either  in  sepa- 
rate villages,  or  in  distinct  quarters  of  the  same  city  or  village,  live,  generally 
in  a  state  of  mutual  distrust  and  ahenation,  the  Moslem,  the  Metawely,  the 
Druze,  the  Orthodox  Greek,  the  Papal  Greek,  the  Maronite,  the  Latin  Cath- 
olic, the  Nusaiiiyeh,  the  Jacobite  and  the  Jew  ;  while  the  wild  Bedouin  has 
I  his  home  in  the  neighboring  desert.  Protestant  Christian  missions  are  here 
!  face  to  face  with  two  of  the  most  fanatical,  bitter  and  zealous  opposing  sys- 
i  terns  to  be  found  in  any  mission  field  ;  viz.  Mohainniedanism,  and  the  de-  " 
1  generate  Eastern  Christianity.  The  ultimate  aim  of  all  Protestant  mission 
I  work  in  the  Orient,  is  to  plant  and  nourish  a  true  Christianity  in  the  midst 
of  Mohammedanism,  with  the  hope  of  ultimately  gaining  a  victory  for  the 
Gospel  over  Islam  ;  and,  in  the  prosecution  of  this  aim,  the  work  is  directly 
'  upon  the  degenerate,  erring  Christian  sects.  Hence  there  is  in  Syria  no 
single  stratum,  social  or  religious,  upon  which  to  work;  as,  for  example, 
some  anciently  united  and  historic  church  or  people,  hke  the  Armenians. 
•  But  the  task  is,  to  fuse  into  one  harmonious,  evangelical  chiu'ch,  these  diverse 
and  intensely  antagonistic  elements  ;  to  draw  them  into  fraternal  and  con- 
fiding unity  ;  to  form  a  chui'ch  which  will  be  itself  a  centre  of  organized, 
self-supj)orting  missionary  operations  ;  and  thus  to  redeem  Christianity  from 
the  scandal  and  shame  which  attaches  to  her  history  in  the  Orient.  Hith- 
efto~the  Christianity  of  the  East  has  been  itself  the  strong  argument 
against  Chiistianity.  In  the  midst  of  this  ancient  and  curious  society,  with 
its  striking  and  peculiar  antagonisms,  which  have  been  petrifying  for  centu- 
ries, until  their  absui'dity  and  bitterness  fairly  defy  representation  to  the 
American  reader,  is  located  the  Syria  Mission,  with  its  heroic  history,  its 
precious  names,  its  earnest  and  persevering  toils,  its  encouraging  successes, 
and  its  brightening  prospects  ;  now  the  inheritance  of  the  re-united  Presby- 
terian Church. 

Of  Chese  various  sects  the  nominal  Christians  are  perhaps  more  numer- 


6' 

ous  than  any  other  one  class  of  people,  cousistiiig  of  about  250,000  Maron- 
ites,  70,000  Orthodox  Greeks,  50,000  Greek  Catholics,  and  a  few  thou- 
sand Syrian  Jacobites,  and  Armenians.  The  Druzes  may  number  50,000, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  population  are  Moslems,  Metawelies,  Nusaiii- 
yeh,  Bedouin  Arabs,  and  Jews.  The  Maronites  reside  chiefly  in  Northern 
Lebanon.  The  Orthodox  Greeks,  and  Greek  CathoUcs,  are  found  in  the 
cities,  and  in  the  villages  of  the  mountains.  The  Druzes  occupy  the  south- 
em  half  of  Lebanon,  the  valley  of  the  Ui^per  Jordan,  and  the  western  slopes 
of  Hermon.  The  Metawelies  are  found  chiefly  in  Sidon,  Tyre,  and  the  moun- 
tains east  of  those  cities,  also,  at  the  north  end  of  Lebanon,  and  in  the 
Buka'a  about  Baalbec.  The  Nusairiyeh  dwell  on  the  mountains  about 
Safeeta,  and.  in  a  few  other  localities.  The  Jacobites  are  foimd  at  Hums, 
Sudud,  and  dependent  villages.  The  Moslems  abound  in  the  chief  cities, 
and  in  parts  of  the  mountains  both  at  the  north  and  south  end  of  our  field. 
They  also  occupy  many  villages  in  the  Buka'a.  Fragmentary  tribes  of  tent- 
dwelling  Arabs  are  met  with  in  nearly  aU  parts  of  our  field,  but  we  come 
in  contact  with  the  great  Bedouin  wanderers  of  the  desert  chiefly  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Hums  on  the  north-east,  and  Banias  at  the  south-east  of 
oui"  limits. 

Dr.  Thomson  of  the  Mission,  in  his  "  Land  and  the  Book,"  speaking  of 
the  uncongenial  and  inharmonious  relations  of  Syrian  society,  says:  "The 
various  religions  and  sects  live  together,  and  practice  their  conflicting  super- 
stitions in  close  proximity,  but  the  people  do  not  coalesce  into  one  homoge- 
neous community,  nor  do  they  regard  each  other  with  fraternal  feelings. 
The  Sunnites  excommunicate  the  Shiites,  (rival  Moslem  sects,) — both  hate 
the  Druzes,  and  all  three  detest  the  Nusauiyeh.  The  Maronites  have  no 
particular  love  for  any  body,  and  in  turn  are  disliked  by  all;  which  is  time 
also  as  said  of  the  Druzes.  The  Orthodox  Greeks  cannot  endure  tlie  (^reek 
Cathohcs;  and  the  fact  that  the  former,  more  generally  than  any  other,sect,  ac- 
cept the  missionary  and  the  Gospel,  arrays  all  other  sects  against  them. 
All  despise  the  Jews.  These  remarks  are  also  true  of  aU  the  minor  divis- 
ions of  this  land." 

"  Another  curious  fact,"  says  Dr.  Thomson,  "  is,  that,  with  the  exception 
of  the  Jews  and  Bedouin  Arabs,  no  one  can  trace  back  his  own  origin  to 
any  ancient  race  or  nation.  The  general  mass  of  the  Moslems  are  the  ming- 
led descendants  of  the  various  races  who  composed  the  population  of  the 
Greek  Empire  at  the  time  of  Mohammed;  and  this  original  confusion  of 
races  has  been  infinitely  augmented  during  the  twelve  centuries  of  their 
lawless  occupation.  Li  all  the  Christian  sects  there  has  been  the  same 
blending  of  primitive  races,  and  a  large  infusion  of  foreign  and  Eui'opean 
blood,  during  the  times  of  the  Crusades,  and  subsequently  even  to  om-  day ; 
so  that  the  most  intelligent  and  learned  admit  that  it  is  absolutely  impossi- 
ble, now,  to  ascertain  their  true  national  ongin.  The  Maronites,  as  a  body, 
may  have  descended  from  the  ancient  Syrians.     The  Nusairiyeh  suggest  the 


idea  that  they  are  the  miserable  clelris  of  the  accursed  Canaanites.  The 
Meta^A-elies  appear  to  have  immigrated  from  Persia ;  they  have  a  decided 
resemblance  to  the  Jews.  In  the  inhabitants  of  Lebanon  and  the  plains  at 
its  base  we  may  i^ossibly  find  some  traces  of  the  original  Phoenicians.  The 
Druzes  are  Arabs,  who  came  from  the  eastern  confines  of  Syria,  and  settled 
in  Lebanon  and  Anti-Lebanon  within  the  last  nuie  hundred  years." 

The  Chi-istian  sects  of  S^Tia,  as  well  as  some  others  in  the  East,  are  de- 
signated as  only  nominally  Christian,  for  the  reason  that,  while  they  are 
the  descendants  of  the  early  Christian  Church,  and  so  inherit  the  name  Chris- 
tian, they  are  yet  unchristian  in  the  degeneracy  of  their  corrupt  religious 
faith  and  practice,  and  have  long  since  forfeited  by  their  scandalous  hves, 
their  depraved  chui'ch- polity,  and  the  virtual  idolatry  of  their  religious  wor- 
ship, any  right  to  the  full  and  simple  title  of  Christians. 

There  are  marked  differences  in  the  religious  characteristics,  and  also  in 
the  accessibihty  of  these  various  sects.  Of  all,  the  Orthodox  Greeks  are  the 
most  accessible  to  missionary  labor.  This  is  owing  to  several  causes.  No 
doubt,  the  most  influential  is,  that  the  Greek  Church  has  never  forbidden 
her  people  to  receive  and  read  the  Word  of  God,  They  have,  in  fact,  been 
C\  always  willing  to  accept  at  our  hands  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  to  have 
them  taught  ui  our  schools.  They  are  also  disposed  to  accept  the  Bible  as 
paramount  authority  on  religious  matters.  From  this  cause,  too,  they  are 
more  willing  to  read  other  religious  books,  to  converse  on  spiritual  topics, 
and  to  Hsten  to  the  preached  Gospel.  It  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  mission 
work  in  the  East,  thus  far,  has  been  blessed  with  a  rapid  and  special  success 
among  the  Armenians^  and  Orthodox  Greeks,  who  alone  of  all  the  nomi- 
nal Christian  sects  have  cherished  a  respect  for  the  Bible,  and  among  whom 
it  has  never  been  a  proscribed  book.  God  is  remembering  in  mercy  those 
who  have  paid  even  a  formal  respect  to  His  Holy  Word.  The  Greeks  also  re- 
ject .the  Papacy,  and  earnestly  protest  against  the  monstrous  pretensions  of  the 
Pope,  so  that  they  have  many  points  of  agi'eement  with  Protestants,  and,  to 
a  certain  extent,  look  upon  them  as  friends  and  allies.  Owing  to  these  and 
;  other  causes,  partly  social  and  partly  pohtical,  these  people  are  everywhere 
I  open  to  missionary  labor  ;  most  of  the  members  of  our  churches  are 
from  this  sect,  and  as  they  are  found  in  considerable  numbers  throughout 
oiu*  entu'e  field,  they  constitute  a  practical  working  basis  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance. 

The  Greek  Catholics — a  papal  off-shoot  from  the  Greek  Church,  which  be- 
gan about  150  years  ago — abound  most  ui  the  cities  and  on  Lebanon  ;  and, 
though  greatly  restrained  by  a  watchful  Papal  hierarchy,  the  people  retain, 
and  at  times  assert  a  good  deal  of  independence,  and  from  the  mere  fact 
that  they  have  once  broken  away  from  their  original  community,  they  are 
the  more  ready  to  investigate  rehgious  subjects,  and  more  open  to  convic- 
tion, than  the  Mai'onites.  They  are,  like  the  Orthodox  Greeks,  a  minority, 
and  dwell  side  by  side  with  other  sects.     They  probably  number  a  larger 


8 

proportion  of  educated,  intelligent  and  enterprising  young  men,  than  any 
other  body  of  people  in  the  country. 

The  Maronites,  as  a  rule,  are  bigoted  Papists,  very  ignorant,  and  wholly 
subject  to  the  stringent  and  ever-watchful  control  of  their  clergy.  Their 
hierarchy  is  also  very  numerous,  well  organized  and  powerful,  being  reinfor- 
ced by  a  multitude  of  learned  Jesuits,  and  numberless  monks  and  nuns,  both 
native  and  foreign.  In  a  large  part  of  northern  Lebanon,  they  are  the  only 
inhabitants,  and  have  been  hitherto  inaccessible.  Still,  even  in  this  strong- 
hold of  the  Maronite  Patriarch,  the  light  of  the  Gospel  is  beginning  to 
penetrate,  in  spite  of  all  opposition;  and  not  only  individuals,  but  considera- 
ble communities  are  found,  from  time  to  time,  attempting  to  break  away 
from  their  bondage,  and  to  declare  themselves  Protestants.  This  number  is 
steadily  increasing,  and  there  is  good  reason  to  hope  that  a  wide  and  effectu- 
al door  for  the  Gospel  amongst  this  large  and  needy  people,  will  ere  long 
be  opened,  which  no  man  can  shut.  In  other  parts  of  our  field,  where  the 
Maronites  are  few,  they  are,  of  course,  more  accessible,  and  less  stringently 
bound  by  their  priests. 

The  Druzes  are,  and  always  have  been,  our  personal  friends — are  glad  to 
have  us  reside  amongst  them,  and  open  schools  for  the  education  of  their 
children.  Of  late,  many  of  their  most  enterprising  youth  are  seeking  a 
higher  education  in  our  seminaries,  and  in  the  college.  It  is  very  desirable 
that  more  definite  and  adequate  measures  be  adopted  and  worked  efficiently 
for  their  conversion.  Their  religion  is  a  medley  of  Mohammedanism  and 
ancient  philosophical  systems — especially  that  of  Zoroaster — with  some 
notions  borrowetl  apparently  from  Judaism  and  Christianity.  They  hold 
to  the  absolute  unity  of  the  Godhead,  and  that  the  highest  perfection 
of  man  is  to  have  all  his  powers  of  mind  and  heart  mystically  absorbed 
in  the  Deity.  According  to  their  views,  there  have  been  seven  law- 
givers and  ten  incarnations,  the  last  being  in  the  person  of  El  Hakeem, 
chief  founder  and  prophet  of  the  sect.  The  world  was  populated  instanta- 
neously with  beings  of  every  age  and  condition.  The  transmigration  of 
souls  is  a  cardinal  doctrine,  and  furnishes  a  just  and  convenient  system  of 
rewards  and  punishments.  The  number  of  Druzes  in  existence  is  not  to  be 
changed,  therefore  proselytism  is  undesnable,  and  apostacy  cannot  be  tolera- 
ted. Desertion  from  then*  ranks  also  breaks  in  upon  an  organization  mar- 
vellously comjDact  and  effective  in  war  and  politics.  The  higher  mysteries  are 
known  only  to  the  initiated,  but  all  are  bound  to  unqualified  secrecy,  and, 
for  this  end,  any  deception  is  allowable.  China  is  inhabited,  as  they  sup- 
pose, by  their  co-rehgionists,  and  at  the  predicted  day  of  reckoning,  two  and 
a  half  millions  of  Chinese  monotheists  ai'e  to  sweep  across  Asia,  crush  out  a 
war  that  shall  be  raging  between  Christians  and  Moslems,  and  enable  Ha- 
keem, again  in  human  form,  to  punish  all  who  reject  his  sway.  His  armies 
shall  then  go  plundering  thi'ough  the  world,  and  finally  set  up  his  throne  in 
Egypt,  where  believers,  rewarded  with  rank  and  wealth,  shall  reign  with  him, 


forever.  This  glorious  era  was  to  be  ushered  in  nine  centui'ies  after  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  faith.  Their  computation  declares  the  day  to  be  close  at 
hand;  among  the  ignorant,  expectation  is  high,  but  those  of  more  intelli- 
gence begin  to  question  the  traditions  of  a  Chinese  invasion,  and  to  fear 
some  stronger  faith  must  supplant  their  own.  If  such  is  to  be  the  case, 
rather  than  adopt  any  of  the  religions  about  them,  Protestantism  would  be 
then.-  choice,  particularly  as  then-  patron,  the  English  nation,  professes  it ; 
few,  however,  are  yet  williug  to  turn  their  back  upon  the  rehgion  of  their 
fathers.  Light  is  beginning  to  maVe  its  way  among  them,  they  have  in  a  few 
instances  even  established  schools  of  their  own,  with  teachers  trained  by  the 
Mission.  Three  years  since  a  prominent  Druze  was  publicly  baptized  with  his 
children  at  Abeih,  and  Fast  year  nine  young  men,  representmg  leading  families^ 
entered  the  College  at  Beu-ut.  This  bold,  vigorous,  industrious  race,  hfted 
out  of  their  degrading  superstitions  by  the  power  of  the  Gospel,  would 
make  Mount  Lebanon  a  strong-hold  of  the  truth. 

The  Moslems  and  Metawelies  are,  as  a  rule,  still  inaccessible  to  direct  mis- 
!  sionary  labor.  They  are,  however,  waking  up  to  the  necessity  of  education, 
'v  and  in  many  places  some  of  their  children  are  beginning  to  attend  our 
schools.  La  Beirut  there  are  two  schools  exclusively  for  JNIoslem  girls,  which 
are  well  attended  though  conducted  on  Christian  principles.  A  spirit  of  in- 
quiry on  religious  subjects  is  manifested  more  £requ.ently  than  in  former 
years,  and  a  few  are  found  who  express  a  desire  to  forsake  the  faith  of  Islam. 
Influences  are  at  work  which  tend  slowly  but  sui*ely  to  break  down  the 
hitherto  impregnable  wall  of  separation  which  forbids  the  introduction  of 
the  Gospel  among  the  Moslem  population,  and  the  time  draws  on  apace 
when  this  vast  field  will  be  thrown  open  to  the  Church. 

Along  the  northern  limits  of  our  field  we  come  in  contact  with  the  large 
body  of  the  Nusaii-iyeh — a  semi-heathen  and  more  than  semi-barbarous  com- 
munity.    These  people  are,  in  some  respects,  iu  much  the  same  state   as  the 
Druzes,  and  from  the  results  of  missionary  labor  among  them  by  the  breth- 
r  \  ren  at  Ladakiyeh,  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  that   they  will   be  found 
^\to  offer  an  open  and  a  promising  field  of  evangelistic  labor. 

To  complete  this  survey,  we  must  briefly  refer  to  the  Bedouin  Arabs. 
SmaU  fragments  of  these  tent-dweUing  descendants  of  Ishmael  are  met  with 
in  nearly  all  parts  of  our  field.  These  fragmentary  tribes  are,  to  a  certain 
extent,  stationary,  that  is,  they  never  wander  far  from  the  settled  parts  of 
the  country,  and  have  constant  intercourse  with  the  villagers  in  the  vicinity 
of  their  encampments.  In  the  region  of  Ilamah  and  Hams,,  however,  we 
are  brought  face  to  face  with  the  genuine  Bedouins,  who  swarm  all  over  the 
plains  and  deserts  of  Syria.  So  also  on  the  east  and  south  of  Banias  we 
encounter  the  same  wild  wanderers  in  great  numbers.  The  only  way  in 
which  mission  work  can  as  yet  be  carried  on  amongst  them,  is  to  send  col- 
porteurs to  wander  about  with  them  in  their  migrations.  This  kind  of 
work  has  been  prosecuted  for  several  years  by  the  Sidon  station,  and  is  at 


li 


J 


10 

present  urged  forward  at  the  expense  of  a  benevolent  English  gentleman, 
Mr.  Arlington  of  Leeds,  who  is  also  supporting  some  Bedouin  youth  in  the 
school  of  Mr.  Bistany,  in  the  hope  that  they  will,  in  time,  become  missionaries 
to  theii-  people  in  the  desert.  This  good  Avork  should  be  sustained  and  fos- 
tered by  every  wise  and  a.vailab]e  means,  in  the  assured  belief  that  tlie  time 
is  not  distant  when  these  outcast  children  of  the  desert  will  be  converted  to 
Christ. 


3.  It^  difficulties  and  encouragements. — The  preceding  sui*vey  of  our  field 
will  of  itself  suggest  to  a  thoughtful  mind  some  of  the  difficulties  and  dis- 
couragements which  it  presents.  But  it  is  desirable  to  present  these  matters 
in  more  detail,  that  the  Church  may  be  placed  in  intelhgent  sympathy  with 
the  Mission,  and  be  better  prepared  to  prosecute  those  measures  which  are 
necessary  for  success,  with  the  greater  patience,  perseverance  and  faith. 
I  The  fi-agmentary  and  antagonistic  character  of  the  population  creates  one 
I  of  the  most  obstinate  difficulties  in  the  way  of  general  and  rapid  evangel- 
j  istic  success.  There  is  no  single,  common  stratum  of  society  underlying 
the  entire  community,  which,  as  a  basis,  might  be  w^orked  throughout  the 
land;  and  it  is,  of  course,  very  difficult  to  fuse  such  discordant  elements  into 
one  harmonious  Christian  community.  In  addition,  the  fanaticism  and  bitter 
prejudices  of  the  various  religious  sects — not  alone  the  Moslems  but,  as 
well,  the  nominally  Christian — make  a  profession  of  Protestantism  on  the 
part  of  an  individual  or  a  community,  a  trying  and  even  hazardous  ordeal. 
In  many  cases,  it  involves  either  the  severing  of  family  ties^  or  the  loss  of 
property,  or  social  and  political  disgi'ace,  or  persecution,  cruel  and  long-con- 
tinued ;  in  some  cases,  this  dire  catalogue  would  seem  to  be  all  combined  in 
the  crushing  avalanche  of  troubles  which  overwhelms  the  feeble  and,  per- 
k'  haps,  faint-hearted  convert.  Neighbors,  friends,  and  even  relatives,  seem, 
sometimes,  to  be  transformed  into  incarnate  devils,  bent  upon  di'iving,  worry- 
ing, frightening,  or  torturing  the  recreant  one  back  into  the  fold  of  the  fam- 
ily reUgion  ;  while  the  priests  are  equally  zealous  to  avail  themselves  of  ev- 
ery agency,  which  their  influence  or  official  station  can  command,  to  accom- 
plish the  same  end. 
.  Again,  each  of  these  sects  is  fenced  about  by  peculiar  creeds  and  customs, 
j  and  defended  by  watchful  leaders  and  zealous  subalterns.  To  counteract 
these  oj)posing  influences,  and  break  the  power  of  superstition,  prejudice, 
and  habit,  impHes  a  vast  amount  of  labor,  study,  patience  and  perseverance. 
Then  again  these  barriers  against  the  reception  of  the  Gospel  are  im- 
.  meusely  strengthened  by  political  entanglements.  Each  of  the  sects  has, 
or  seeks  to  have,  some  foreign  protector,  upon  whom  it  can  depend  for 
protection  against  its  enemies.  The  Maronites  look  to  the  French  Gov- 
ernment to  sustain  their  independent  existence  ;  the  Greeks  depend  upon 
Russia;  the  Greek  CathoUcs  upon  Austria;  and  the  Druzes  rely  upon 
England,     They  are  all,  in  fact,  dealt  with  by  these  various  governments  as  so 


11 

\  many  political  allies  in  this  country,  and  this  marks  them   off  into   distinct 
!  and  hostile  camps.     The  recent  war  between  France  and  Prussia,  brought 
out  this  element  of  discord  and  antagonism  in  an  amazing  manner. 

Time  and  other  influences  will,  however,  modify  these  partizan  animosi- 
ties. Experience  has  proved,  also,  that  even  this  fragmentary  and  antagonis- 
tic chai'acter  of  the  inhabitants  is  overruled,  in  the  providence  of  God,  for 
the  protection  of  persecuted  Protestants,  and  as  a  means  of  gaining  access 
to  many  pai-ts  of  the  country,  which  might  otherwise  be  effectually  closed 
against  us.  The  Protestants  keep  alonf  from  all  these  entanglements,  and 
cultivate  friendly  relations  with  all,  that  the  Gospel  may  not  be  hindered,  but 
rather  commended  to  all  classes  of  the  community. 

Another  hindrance  to  missionary  success  in  Sjrisi  is  the  familiarity  of  the 
people  with  the  language  of  rehgion,  while  strangers  to  its  power.  Relig- 
ious phrases  and  expressions  abound.  The  most  sacred  words  and  devout 
phrases  are  on  the  hj)s  of  aU.  Their  very  salutations  contain  an  amount  of 
hoh'  language  that  is  astonishing.  Dr.  Laui'ie,  in  his  Historical  Sketch,  says: 
"  Good  people  in  Amex'ica  are  often  at  a  loss  to  understand  how  there  can 
I  be_so  many  Christian  sects  in  Syria,  and  no  religion.  But  if  they  will  bear 
'  in  mind  the  natural  character  of  the  heart,  and  then  consider,  that  in  all  the 
nominal  chm'ches  of  Syria  spiritual  instruction  is  never  given — that  the 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel  are  never  taught — that  piety  is  made  to  consist  in 
outward  ceremonies,  in  the  observance  of  days,  and  obedience  to  their 
priests — that  their  idea  of  worship  is  the  repetition  of  prayers  in  an  un- 
known tongue — that  the  distinction  between  the  regenerate  and  unregene- 
rate  is  known  only  as  the  difference  between  the  baptised  and  unbaptised — 
that  religion  is  separated  from  morality — that  the  priest  is  held  to  have 
power  to  pardon  sin,  and  does  it  for  money — that  then-  preaching  is  either  a 
teaching  of  the  worst  errors  of  Popery,  or  incredible  and  silly  legends  of 
saints ;  they  will  see  how  the  name  can  exist  without  the  substance." 

The  mission  work  in  Syria  has  also  been  greatly  retarded  by  frequent  po- 
litical changes,  and  the  unsettled,  restless  state  of  society.  The  minds  of 
the  people  have  been  occupied,  and  their  attention  distracted,  by  the  con- 
stant expectation  or  fear  of  social  disorder  and  anarchy,  while  at  times 
civil  wars  of  the  most  harrowing  and  desolating  cruelty  have  swept  over  the 
land.  The  recent  fearful  massacres  of  1860  are  an  example.  The  result 
of  these  apparently  and,  no  doubt,  du-ectly  adverse  influences  has  been, 
however,  in  many  cases,  to  gain  a  vantage  ground,  or  secure  an  opportuni- 
\\  ty,  for  which  the  missionaries  had,  perhaps,  been  waiting  and  praying  many 
'years.  ^It  is  true,  moreover,  that  but  few  Protestants  were  either  implicated 
or  injm'ed  in  these  fiightful  outbursts.  We  quote  again  from  Dr.  Laurie's 
Sketch,  with  reference  to  the  results  of  the  civil  wars  of  1860. 

"  llie  du-ect  results  of  this  war  on  our  operations  were,  doubtless,  injurious. 
Some  stations  were  broken  up  for  a  time.  Many  hearts  were  hardened  by 
suffering,  and  immorality  increased,  through  the  homeless   poverty  of  many 


^ 


12 

exposed  to  temptation.  But  the  general  result  shows  much  that  calls  for 
gratitude.  The  power  of  the  clergy  that  martyred  Asaad  el  Shidiak,  and 
formed  the  greatest  hindrance  to  the  progress  of  the  truth,  weakened  by 
previous  wars,  in  this,  received  its  death-blow." 

"  Agam,  the  war  brought  missionaries  into  more  extensive  and  favorable  in- 
tercourse with  the  people  than  ever  before.  At  different  times,  as  many  as 
75000  persons,  in  all,  were  fed  daily  from  then-  hands.  At  one  time,  2500 
were  fed  in  Beirut  by  native  members  of  our  church ;  60000  piastres, 
($2400)  contributed  in  England  and  America,  were  distributed  every  week 
by  the  missionaries  ;  Dr.  Thomson  having  charge  of  the  clothing,  bedding, 
etc.  ;  Dr.  Van  Dyck  devoting  his  time  to  the  sick ;  and  Mr.  Jessup  dealing 
out  daily  bread  to  the  starving  multitudes.  Besides  aU  this  at  Beirut,  Mr. 
Lyons  visited  the  vicinity  of  Baalbec,  on  the  same  errand ;  and  Mr.  Eddy 
ministered  to  the  thousands  who  had  fled  to  Sidon  for  refuge.  Yet,  out  of 
15000  widows  there  were  only  twenty  Protestants.  Such  a  refutation  of 
the  slanders  by  which  the  clergy  bad  sought  for  more  than  forty  years  to 
fence  out  the  missionaries  from  the  people,  could  not  but  produce  a  re- 
aiction  in  favor  of  the  tnith.  During  some  months  there  was  daily  preach- 
ing at  Beirut." 

In  all  the  trials  of  this  Mission,  though  sickness  and  other  causes  have 
constrained  some  to  return  home,  the  missionaries  generally  have  stood  at 
i  their  posts,  and  sought  to  bear  up  the  courage  of  the  churches  on  the  wings 
of  their  own  faith. 

Amid  the  discouragements  of  1841  and  1842,  the  lamented  Dr.  Eh 
Smith,  though  his  mind  was  never  free  from  anxiety  respecting  the  prospects 
of  the  Mission,  yet  pleaded  against  its  being  abandoned  by  the  chui-ches, 
and  was  content  to  do  good  by  piece-meal,  as  opportunity  offered,  assured  that 
all  the  preparatory  labor  then  performed  would  one  day  yield  abundant 
fruit. 

In  184.5, the  Mission  wrote :  "Our  history  presents  so  many  instances  of 
most  marked  divine  interposition  in  behalf  of  the  Mission,  that  it  would 
indicate  feeble  faith  indeed  if  we  should  be  gi-eatly  cast  down  by  present 
difficulties."  Again,  in  1861,  while  the  waves  of  the  storm  of  1860  were  still 
raging,  a  beloved  brother  still  at  his  post  wrote :  "  To  the  question — Are  you 
discouraged?  We  answer,  No.  The  walk  of  Jerusalem  were  built  in  troub- 
lous times.  Storm  and  tempest  are  as  needful  as  the  dew  and  sunshine. 
We  may  see  darker  times  than  ever,  and  we  may  see  lighter ;  but  light  or 
dark,  our  duty  is  plain.  We  are  to  hold  on  till  the  divine  Hand  itself 
loosens  our  hold;  we  may  and  ought  to  walk  in  the  light  of  God."  The 
Mission  in  Syria  now  stands  on  higher  vantage-ground  than  ever  before; 
and  those  "  who  are  alive  and  remain "  there,  now  begin  to  realize  the 
truth,  that  they  who  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy. 

Another  difficulty  which  makes  the  gaining  and  confirming  of  souls  in  the 
spiritual  hfe  such  a  laborious,  and  often  discouraging  work,  is  the  unprom- 


13 

ising  and  spiritually  impoverished  character  of  the  material  which  is  availa- 
ble for  missionary  vpork.  It  is  buried  beneath  the  dust  and  ashes  of  Orien- 
I  talism,  religious  and  social,  as  Pompeii  lay  overwhelmed  by  the  ashes  of 
i  Vesuvius.  Dig  it  out,  and  strike  it  with  the  Gospel  hammer,  and  it  seems 
often  simply  to  dissolve  into  suffocating  dust.  An  ignorance  of  any  high 
spiritual  experience  in  the  chiu-ches  also  tends  to  retard  their  growth,  and 
makes  them  contented  to  live  with  less  of  earnest  aspiration  and  spiritual  de- 
velopment than  should  mark  their  piety.  The  presence  of  the  Spirit  has 
never  been  known  in  the  churches  in  any  such  striking  and  generally  preva- 
lent power  as  is  often  known  in  Christian  communities  here.  The  converts 
have  been  almost  entirely  adults,  won  by  the  power  of  the  truth,  convin- 
cing, conquering  and  subduing;  hence,  the  prevaihng  type  of  piety  is  intellec- 
tual rather  than  emotional.  The  Syrian  missionary  prays  for  the  mighty 
power  and  influence  of  the  Spirit,  to  give  tenderness  and  love  where  faith 
and  intellectual  convictions  are  often  so  clear  and  simple. 

As  regards  the  special  encouragements  of  the  field,  there  are  some  strong 
points  of  interest.     The  geographical  hmits  of  the  field  would  be  a  very  in- 
adequate indication  of  the  actual  and  prospective  sphere  of  the  Mission  in  its 
influence  for  good.     A  far  wider  view  is  the  true  one  to  take.     By  means  of  the 
\  press,  the  Bible  and  rehgious  books  have  been  spread  already  over  the  vast  re- 
I  gions  occupied  by  Arabic  speaking  races,  from  "Western  Africa  to  India  and 
\  beyond  it,  and  from  Mosul  and  Mardin  to  Ethiopia   and  Abyssinia.     By 
means  of  the  common  school,  the  normal  school,  the  female  seminary,  the 
college  and  the   theological   seminary,  teachers   and  preachers   are   trained 
and  sent  forth  to  extend  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  advantages  of 
education,  to  many  distant  places.     These  long  Hues   of  precious  influence 
and  spiritual  power  are  but  just  beginning   to  be  worked  out  extensively, 
and  they  afford  the  highest  encouragement  for  rapid  expansion  and  early 
results. 

"While  there  are  other  honored  missionaries  who  labor  in  the  Arabic  lan- 
guage, and  so  also  for  thek  vast  Arabic  speaking  constituency,  yet  it  would 
not  be  invidious  to  say  that  the  Syria  Mission  enjoys  special  opportunities  to 
\  carry  on  an  enlarged  and  expansive  work  in  this  direction.  Her  Arabic 
printing  press  is  the  largest  and  most  active  in  the  world,  and  her  means 
\  and  appliances  for  educating  and  Cliristianizing  the  Arab  people  are  the  re- 
sult of  many  laborious  years  of  missionary  effort.  Beirut,  with  Lebanon 
for  her  protector,  feeder,  and  chief  support,  is  rapidly  and  surely  becoming 
the  radiating  centre  of  literary,  scientific  and  religious  light  and  culture  for 
this  people.  The  same  is  true  with  regard  to  the  vigorous  and  growing 
educational  institutions  of  the  Mission.  The  College  also  is  destined  to  oc- 
cupy a  noble  sphere,  and  do  a  grand  work  for  the  race  in  whose  interests, 
for  Christ's  sake,  it  has  been  foimded.  A  spacious  and  beautiful  building 
for  the  uses  of  the  institution,  is  now  in  process  of  erection  at  Beirut,  the 
comer-stone  of  which  was  recently  laid  by  an  esteemed  fiiend  of  the  Mission, 


14 

Hon.  W.  E.  Doclge-of  New  York,  who  was  then  visiting  the  East.     A  build- 
ing for  the  Medical  Department  is  also  in  process  of  erection. 

Another  encouragement  is  to  be  found  in  the  strategic  location  of  the 
Mission.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  Mohammedan  world,  and  any  success 
which  the  Gospel  may  achieve  here  will  exert  an  important,  if  not  de- 
cisive influence  in  overthrowing  the  ancient  faith  of  Islam.  But  our 
hope  and  great  encouragement,  after  all,  is  in  God.  He  has  given  us  this 
commanding  position  ;  He  has  blessed  us  with  these  noble  ojoportunities ; 
He  has  prepared  these  agencies  and  instrumentalities  of  special  value  and 
efficiency,  that  He  may  bless  the  Mission  with  spiritual  power,  and  work 
mightily  through  His  servants,  by  the  energy  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  for  the 
salvation  of  vast  numbers  who  woul^  otherwise  be  left  to  be  the  prey  of 
Satan  and  the  victims  of  sin. 

n. 

A   STATEMENT    OF   PROGKESS   UP   TO    THE   PRESENT    TIME. 

1.  In  Relation  to  Evangelistic  Work. — In  the  prosecution  of  then-  work, 
the  Mission  have  ever  regarded  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  as  the  most  effi- 
cacious instrumentahty  for  bringing  the  tnith  into  contact  with  the  hearts 
of  the  people,  and  they  have  held  all  other  agencies  as  only  auxiliary  to  this. 

The  acquisition  of  the  language  has,  therefore,  been  the  first  duty  of 
the  new  missionary,  to  the  end  that  he  may  as  soon  as  possible  address  the 
people  in  their  own  tongue.  Every  Sabbath,  and  more  or  less  during  the 
week,  they  are  accustomed  to  preach  in  their  stations  and  out-stations. 
Their  audiences  average  from  50  to  100  hearers,  except  that  the  Beirut  con- 
gregation numbers  nearly  500  souls.  Connected  with  the  Beiiiit  congrega- 
tion is  an  interesting  sabbath  school,  numbering  350  scholars,  and  also  a  weekly 
Bible-class  for  young  men,  conducted  by  Dr.  Jessup,  numbering  about  80 
regular  attendants.  Sabbath  schools  and  Bible-classes,  not  so  numerously 
attended,  are  in  operation  at  other  localities  in  the  mission  field. 

There  are  three  ordained  native  evangelists  in  the  field.  One  is  a  settled 
pastor,  another  is  a  professor  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  College,  and 
the  third  is  preaching  as  a  supply,  with  the  expectation  of  soon  becoming  a 
pastor.  A  class  of  five  has  just  graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary  of 
the  Mission,  and  it  is  the  expectation  that  they  will  become  pastors  also  at 
various  points  in  the  field. 

Besides  these,  there  are  as  many  as  twenty  pious  native  helpers  and 
preachers,  some  of  whom  act  also  as  teachers  in  common  schools,  who 
have  most  of  them  enjoyed  more  or  less  theological  training  in  Abeih  Semi- 
nary, and  w^ho  conduct  rehgious  services  in  the  vainous  parts  of  the  field  on 
the  Sabbath,  besides  gathering  the  people  for  religious  conversation  and 
instruction  during  the  evenings  of  the  week;  so  that  it  is  not  too  much  to 


15 

say,  that  by  means  of  the  missionaries  and  the  native  helpers  the  Gospel  is 
preached  statedly  in  as  many  as  thirty  places  in  Syria,  as  far  as  it  constitutes 
a  part  of  then-  mission  field,  and  the  regular  attendants  will  number  about 
2500  souls. 

These  native  preachers  and  teachers  command  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  Mission,  and  are  a  powei-ful  auxiliary  to  their  labors.  The  problem 
yet  to  be  solved  is,  how  to  greatly  increase  the  number  of  such  laborers,  so 
as  to  meet  the  pressing  wants  of  the  field ;  duly  to  educate  them,  and  to  in- 
duce the  native  churches  to  assume  their  support. 

Churches. — In  the  northern  field  are  two  churches,  at  Tripoli,  and  at 
Hiims.  The  church  members  in  and  around  Beirut  form  a  church  in  that 
city.  In  the  Lebanon  are  two  chui'ches;  one  in  Abeih,  and  the  other  in  Ain 
Zehalta.  In  the  Sidon  field  are  four  churches ;  in  Sidon,  Alma,  Khiyam, 
and  Hasbeiya,  these  various  churches  coUect  the  members  from  the  re- 
gions of  which  they  are  the  centres.  The  number  of  chui'ch  members  in 
them  all  is  about  320. 

Church  Edifices. — In  the  Tripoli  field  there  are  two  church  edifices,  one 
at  Safeeta,  and  the  other  at  Hums,  both  recently  completed;  in  Tripoli  a 
room  is  hired  for  an  indefinite  number  of  years  ;  in  other  places  rooms 
are  hired. 

In  the  Bekut  field  there  is  at  Beu-ut  a  fine  church,  with  tower  and  clock, 
and  one  at  Kefr  Sheema,  recently  dedicated.  Another  preaching  service  has 
recently  been  established  in  Beirut,  which  promises  well  and  may  in  time 
call  for  another  church  edifice  in  that  city. 

In  the  Abeih  field  there  is  a  fine  church  building  in  process  of  erection  at 
Abeih;  an  inferior  one  in  use  at  Ain  Zehalta;  a  new  one  now  completed 
at  Bhamdim;  and  several  rooms  are  hu-ed  and  occupied  for  church  purposes. 

In"  the  Sidon  field  there  are  church  buildings  in  Sidon,  Kanah,  Alma, 
Deir  Mimass,  Khiyam,  Ibl,  Kasheiya,  and  Hasbeiya.  The  people  of  Mejdel, 
Jedaide,  and  Jim,  are  also  making  effoi-ts  to  complete  churches  in  their  re- 
spective communities.  For  the  most  part  these  churches  have  been  built 
by  funds  raised  by  the  missionaries  among  friends  of  the  Mission  at  home; 
yet  considering  the  poverty  of  many  of  these  native  communities,  they  have 
themselves  given  largely,  and  made  many  sacrifices  for  the  honor  and  success 
of  the  Gospel. 

Theological  Seminary. — A  Seminary  for  the  training  of  theological  students 
has  been  in  operation  for  tlu-ee  years  past.  Formerly  it  was  located  at  Abeih, 
but  it  is  a  distinct  institution  from  what  is  known  in  the  Mission  as  the 
"Abeih  Seminary."  Eecently  it  was  removed  to  Beu-ut.  Its  instructors  are 
Mr.  Calhoun,  in  the  department  of  Exegesis  and  Bibhcal  Introduction;  Mr. 
Eddy,  in  the  department  of  Systematic  Theology ;  Mr.  H.  H.  Jessup,  in  the 
department  of  Church  History  and  Homiletics.     Its  first  graduating  class  of 


16 

five  are  yoimg  men  of  ability  and  zeal ;  it  is  hoped  that  they  will  be  gi'eatly 
useful  as  native  pastors. 

We  close  this  brief  statement  of  evangeKstic  progress  with  a  summary  of 
results. 

(1)  Direct  Results. — What  has  been  hitherto  accomphshed  seems  small,  if 
estimated  merely  by  the  number  of  churches  formed,  church  members  ad- 
mitted, native  pastors  ordained,  Protestant  communities  em'olled ;  but  in  no 
country  does  this  comprise  the  sum  of  missionary  influence,  and  least  of  all 
would  this  scale  of  reckoning  results  apply  to  Syria. 

These  results  will  not  seem  small,  if  the  difficulties  of  the  field  are  borne 
in  mind,  the  difficulties  of  the  language,  the  small  number  of  laborers,  and 
the  counteracting  influences  from  hostile  organizations,  powerfully  sustained 
by  men  and  means.  Only  God  could  have  wrought  so  much,  thi'ough  instru- 
mentalities so  inadequate.  Only  God  could  have  prevented  the  cause 
of  truth  fi'om  being  overborne  by  such  powers  leagued  against  it. 

While  the  number  actually  converted  seems  as  yet  small,  it  is  nevertheless 
true,  that  many  minds  are  enlightened,  and  multitudes  are  Protestant  in 
sentiment  who  will  ere  long  join  the  mission  ranks.  The  children  of  Syria 
will  many  of  them  become  Protestants.  A  prominent  Greek  at  Beirut  re- 
cently said  to  Dr.  Jessup,  "  You  missionaries  need  not  trouble  yourselves 
about  converting  Syria,  our  children  are  all  going  to  be  Protestants;  the 
Bible  will  do  the  work."  The  month  of  December  in  each  year  has  been 
set  apart  by  the  Foreign  Board  as  a  season  of  special  prayer  for  Syria 
among  the  churches.  Hardly  had  the  prayers  of  God's  people  last  Decem- 
ber ascended  before  the  throne,  when  there  was  manifest  in  the  Mission  an 
unusual  spirit  of  inquiry  among  the  natives ;  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  was 
evidently  present ;  the  Word  was  listened  to  with  eagerness  and  solemnity  ; 
large  and  interesting  prayer  meetings  were  held;  souls  were  converted,  and 
the  churches  edified,  strengthened  and  refreshed.  In  many  years  there  has 
been  no  such  hopeful  and  significant  rehgious  movement  as  that  which 
blessed  Syria  last  winter.  Let  the  people  of  God,  and  the  friends  of  Syria, 
pray,  and  the  work  will  go  on  gloriously. 

(2)  Indirect  Results. — These  have  been  among  Mohammedans,  Druzes,  and 
Nominal  Christians. 

To  Protestant  influence,  in  great  part,  may  we  ascribe  the  changed  feeling 
which  has  come  over  the  minds  of  the  Mohammedans  towards  Christians. 
The  Christian  religion  has  become  understood  by  them  to  be  not  Avholly  the 
system  of  idolatry  which  they  once  regarded  it,  nor  professing  Christians  as 
devoid  of  morahty  as  they  once  seemed.  As  a  consequence,  there  has  been 
a  sensible  quenching  of  the  flame  of  Moslem  bigotry,  and  a  greater  respect 
for  Christians,  their  rights,  their  Bible,  and  then*  religion.  The  relative 
positions  of  the  Crescent  and  the  Cross  are  not  what  they  were  when  the 


17 


18 

missionaries  came  to  Syria.  The  Bible  has  gained  ground,  and  the  Koran 
has  lost  it,  as  a  controlling  influence  in  the  land.  Some  Mohammedans  are 
among  the  attendants  upon  our  preaching,  and  these  would,  doubtless,  be 
more  numerous,  but  for  the  risk  to  property  and  to  life  which  inquirers 
from  among  them  incur.  A  young  Moslem  in  Sidon  recently  asked  Mr. 
Eddy  if  he  might  come  to  his  (Mr.  Eddy's)  house,  and  learn  arithmetic, 
adding  that  tliis  would  be  only  an  ostensible  reason,  as  the  truth  was,  he 
had  been  reading  the  New  Testament,  and  wanted  to  know  more  of  our 
religion.  Several  mterestiug  cases  of  religious  inquiry  among  Moslems  h^ve 
come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  missionaries  within  a  year  or  two  past. 

The  first  really  satisfactory  convert  from  Mohammedanism  in  the  history 
of  the  Syria  Mission,  was  admitted  to  the  chui'ch  during  the  past  year.  His 
calmness  amidst  persecution,  and  his  heroic  adherence  to  his  Saviour,  in  the 
face  of  threatened  death,  make  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  thiilling 
chapters  in  the  annals  of  our  Mission.  He  was  rescued  by  the  efforts  of 
consuls  and  missionaries  from  the  clutches  of  the  Turkish  Governor  General 
of  Syria,  and  his  right  to  religious  liberty  on  the  basis  of  the  guarantees  of 
1856,  fought  for  and  secured  ;  although  he  was  obhged  subsequently  to 
flee  to  Egypt  to  escape  private  assassination,  as  some  forty  young  Moslems 
in  Beirut  had  sworn  to  kill  him  in  some  way.  But  every  convert  thus  res- 
cued gives  added  dignity  to  the  guarantees  of  religious  .liberty,  which  are 
legally  peifect  in  the  Turkish  Empire,  and  tends  to  make  them  more  and 
more  a  recognized  law  of  the  land.  The  time  is  not  far  off  when  religious 
hberty  wiU  be  a  literal,  as  well  as  a  legal  fact,  throughout  the  Turkish  Em- 
pire. As  yet,  it  needs  to  be  vigorously  contended  for  in  Syria  and  the  re- 
moter provinces,  lest  the  tiger  spirit  of  Moslem  fanaticism,  which  still  lurks 
in  the  hearts  of  "  the  Faithful  ,"  should  do  its  bloody  work  secretly  in  the 
darkness  of  its  prisons,  and  under  the  protection  of  Turkish  authority. 

Not  without  results,  also,  have  the  children  of  the  Druzes  been  taught  in 
our  schools  during  all  these  years,  and  so  many  conversations  been  held 
with  adults  of  that  sect. 

The  leaven  of  the  Gospel  has  pervaded  even  to  the  secret  inner  sanctu- 
aries of  their  religion,  and  the  white  turbans  of  the  initiated  Druzes  seen  in 
our  Sabbath  congregations,  and  the  inquirers  who  come  to  our  houses,  and 
the  baptized  converts  from  among  them,  show  that  not  in  vain  to  the  Druzes 
has  the  hght  of  the  Gospel  again  dawned  upon  Syria.  One  of  the  young 
men  who  graduated  from  the  Theological  Seminary  last  year  is  from  the 
Druze  sect,  and  it  is  hoj)ed  will  do  a  good  work  among  his  people. 

But  principally  among  the  nominal  Christian  sects  have  the  indirect 
i-esults  of  missionary  labor  extended.  These  are  visible  in  the  changed 
power  of  the  clergy.  Once,  excommunication  was  a  terror  above  all  terrors. 
Now,  it  is  so  powerless  a  weapon  that  those  who  once  wielded  it  so  effec- 
tively are  ashamed  to  challenge  ridicule  by  exposing  its  weakness. 

Protestantism,  once  regarded  by  the  mass  of  the  people  as  the  blackest 


19 

of  heresies,  finds  everywhere  its  defenders  and  vindicators,  even  where  it 
lacks  followers,  and  no  longer  can  the  lies,  with  which  the  clergy  were 
accustomed  to  frighten  away  then-  flocks  from  contact  with  Gospel  influence, 
gain  currency. 

The  religious  instruction  given  in  then*  churches  has  been  modified.  More 
Bible  is  taught,  and  less  iraditiou.  The  preaching  is  more  of  Christ,  and 
less  of  the  saints.  The  adoration  of  pictures  has  greatly  lessened.  All 
sects  have  been  compelled  to  introduce  schools,  and  to  educate  both  boys 
and  girls ;  to  educate  their  priests,  and  to  modify  the  prohibitions  against 
reading  the  Bible.  At  tunes,  even  now,  the  fanaticism  of  the  priests  breaks 
forth  in  disgi*aceful  exhibitions;  as,  recently,  in  Kanah  and  Tjre,  at  the  com- 
mand of  the  Greek  Catholic  clergy,  the  people  burned  their  Bibles.  This 
action,  however,  on  the  part  of  the  priests,  drove  some  of  thek  adherents 
into  the  Protestant  ranks,  and  called  forth  bitter  reproaches  from  the  Mos- 
lems, who  denounced  it  as  scandalous  and  shameful. 

The  chrculation  of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  rehgious  books,  has  been  wide- 
spread, and  we  have  heard  of  some  who  have  been  enlightened  by  these 
silent  teachers,  and  have  through  them  found  Christ  as  their  Savioui',  and 
died  in  joyful  trust  in  Him,  though  they  never  had  an  opportunity  pubhcly 
to  profess  theh  faith  in  Him. 

Among  all  sects— Mohammedan,  Druze,  Greek,  Maronite  and  Catholic, 
the  glaciers  of  prejudice,  which  for  centimes  have  been  forming,  are  now 
melting  and  crumbling  under  the  light  and  warmth  of  the  Gospel. 

The  gift  of  the  Bible  to  this  people  in  their  own  tongue  is  the  rich  tribute 
of  gratitude  which  the  West  has  retui-ned  to  the  East,  in  acknowledgment  of 
its  obligation  to  the  land  whence  the  Bible  came  ;  and  the  East,  in  its  turn,  is 
again  paying  tribute  to  the  West,  sending  back  to  the  churches  the  stimulat- 
ing and  precious  tidings  of  the  victories  which  the  Word  of  God  is  winning. 

Not  in  vain  have  Hebard  and  Smith  and  Whiting  and  De  Forest  and 
Ford  sowed  the  seed  of  the  Word  in  tears,  even  though  they  went  home  with 
few  gathered  sheaves.  From  the  heights  of  heaven  they  now  behold  the 
springing  harvest.  Not  in  vain  have  the  Syrian  workers  who  yet.  remain, 
toiled,  many  of  them  for  long  years  in  that  arduous  field ;  God  is  giving 
them  abundant  evidences  of  tlis  favor,  estabhshing  the  work  of  their  hands 
with  signs  and  wonders  of  His  grace. 

The  churches  in  America  which  have  aided  in  sustaining  the  Mission  by 
their  offerings  and  their  prayers,  have  seen  fewer  results  than  have  crowned 
their  labors  in  other  fields,  and  their  faith  has  been  sorely  tried  :  yet  they  have 
been  permitted  to  hear,  from  time  to  time,  of  souls  ransomed  from  darkness 
and  sin;  echoes  of  the  songs  of  triumph  sung  by  departing  saints  have 
been  borne  to  theh  ears ;  and  they  have  felt  that  their  labors  have  not  been 
unrewarded. 

And  the  Church  which  now  adopts  the  Mission,  adopts  a  charge  of  peculiar 
difficulty.     This  "  Crown  Jewel  of  Missions,"  as  it  has  more  kindly  than  de- 


20 

servedly  been  called,  needs  years  of  careful  cutting  and  polishing  ere  it  will 
be  worthy  to  shine  on  the  Saviour's  brow.  Yet,  surely  it  may  be  counted 
a  privilege,  and  none  the  less  so  because  the  campaign  is  prolonged,  and 
costly,  and  difficult,  to  recover  to  its  rightful  Lord  the  land  of  patriarchs  and 
prophets,  of  apostles  and  martyrs  ;  to  restore  primitive  Christianity  to  the 
home  of  its  birth,  after  fourteen  centuries  of  exile. 

To  the  question,  therefore.  Missionaries,  what  have  you  done  in  Syria  ? 
We  answer : 

By  God's  grace,  we  have  laid  anew  the  foundations  of  God's  living  temple, 
Christ  being  the  chief  cornei'-stone,  and  we  have  seen  some  courses  already 
built  upon  it. 

We  have  set  up  and  maintained  the  banner  of  the  cross  in  the  face  of  its 
pretended  fi'iends  and  its  avowed  foes.  We  have  collected  a  little  army  on 
the  Lord's  side,  and  armed  them  with  the  sword  of  the  Spu-it.  We  have 
prepared  an  arsenal  of  spu'itual  weapons  for  future  conflicts,  in  the  Scriptures, 
and  other  religious  books,  translated  and  committed  to  the  people.  We 
have  estabhshed  outposts  of  schools  and  seminaries,  and  have  raised  strong- 
holds of  the  truth,  in  churches  planted  here  and  there  throughout  the  land. 
We  have  taken  possession  of  the  land  in  the  name  of  King  Immanuel,  and 
we  aim  to  subdue  and  hold  it  wholly  for  Him. 

Under  this  same  general  head  of  a  "  Statement  of  Progress  up  to  the 
Present  Time,"  we  remark : 

2.  As  to  Educational  Agencies. — The  awakening  mind  of  the  East 
craves  education.  We  make  it  the  hand-maid  of  the  Gospel.  By  it  we  gain 
positions  and  attain  an  influence,  which  we  could  hope  for,  as  Syrian  society 
is  now  constituted,  iii  no  other  way.  Through  it  we  have  hundreds  of  chil- 
dred  under  the  most  direct  rehgious  instruction,  whom  we  could  not  reach  in 
any  other  way.  Our  reading  books  are  made  up  of  Bible  history  and  in- 
cident. Rehgious  truth  is  also  illustrated  and  enforced.  Much  of  the  New 
Testament  is  committed  to  memory  in  our  schools,  and  the  children  are  all 
carefuUy  drilled  in  the  catechisms,  and  also  in  books  of  Scripture  history  and 
religious  doctrine.  They  are  also  taught  to  recite  and  sing  many  of"  the  best 
hymns  in  our  language,  which  have  been  translated  into  Arabic;  "  Just  as  I 
am,"  set  to  the  Turkish  national  air,  is  a  great  favorite.  The  music  with 
which  the  Mohammedan  marches  into  battle  has  been  impressed  into  the 
service  of  the  Gospel,  and  as  its  sweet  and  stu'ring  notes  echo  through  our 
churches,  it  seems  both  a  type  and  a  prophecy  of  happy  and  glorious  changes 
yet  to  come. 

This  whole  matter  of  Education  in  Syi'ia,  is  so  ably  and  interestingly  pre- 
sented in  a  "  Special  Report  on  Education  in  its  Relations  to  the  Mission 
Work  in  Syria,"  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Eddy,  of  the  Sidon  Station,  that  we  can  do 
nothing  better  than  introduce  it  here  entire,  as  presenting  the  subject  in  all 
its  importance  and  in  its  present  aspects. 


f 


21 

REPORT. 

(See  Foreign  Missionary  for  September,  1871.) 
It  may  be  well  to  define,  in  the  outset,  the  position  of  the  Syria  Mission  in 
regard  to  this  branch  of  benevolent  enterjDrise.  With  them  education  is  not 
an  end,  only  a  means  to  the  securing  of  an  end.  Their  object  is  the  salvation 
of  souls.  They  regard  education  as  an  important  auxihary  in  this,  their 
great  work. 

With  this  view,  of  course,  they  have  always  sought  to  combine  religious 
with  secular  instruction  ;  directly,  earnestly,  plainly,  have  they  endeavored 
to  bring  before  their  pupils  the  truths  uf  the  Bible. 

Without  stopping  to  consider  the  general  question  of  the  bearings  of  edu- 
cation upon  the  missionary  work,  the  first  topic  proposed  is  : 

I.  Is  thei'e  anything  peculiar  in  the  structure  of  society,  and  habits  prevalent, 
in  Syria,  which  gives  to  education  here  a  special  efficacy  as  a  means  to  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Gospel  ? 

The  way  is  not  yet  open  for  bringing  the  Gospel  directly  into  contact  with 
the  masses  of  the  people  by  preaching.  Large  congregations  could  not  be 
gathered  with  facility  in  the  open  air,  as  in  India.  Crowds  of  cuiious  Hs- 
teners  do  not  throng  our  churches,  as  those  of  the  missionaries  in  Africa  and 
the  South  Sea  Islands.  Nor  is  the  land,  to  any  great  extent,  a  field  for  col- 
porteur labor.  Work  of  this  kind  is  impracticable  in  many  places,  and  diffi- 
cult in  most.  In  consequence  of  the  variety  of  religious  sects  here,  and  the 
bitterness  of  feeling  between  them,  men  attach  great  value  to  their  religious 
distinctions,  and  are  jealous  of  any  encroachments  upon  them ;  so  that  the 
obstacles  to  dhect  attempts  at  proselytizing  are  almost  insurmountable. 
Where  the  work  has  reached  an  advanced  stage,  of  course,  it  is  different, 
but  in  all  new  advances  we  are  very  much  shut  up  to  the  use  of  indirect 
means;  and  of  these,  one  of  the  most  hopeful  is  education. 

This  appears  more  plainly  in  considering  the  obstacles  to  the  Gospel 
among  the  different  religious  sects,  and  how  these  obstacles  are  met  by  this 
means. 

First  Among  the  Mohammedans. — They  rarely  attend  our  preaching,  rarely 
visit  us  for  religious  conversation.  As  religious  teachers,  we,  therefore,  come 
but  httle  into  contact  with  them.  Pride  in  the  superiority  of  their  own  re- 
ligion, contempt  of  Christianity  as  they  understand  it,  and  of  Christians,  as 
being  in  this  land  a  subject  race,  bigotry,  and  fanaticism  wall  them  around  ; 
while  a  persuasion  that  the  Scriptures  have  been  tampered  with,  shuts  their 
hearts  from  the  benefit  of  their  perusal. 

But  Mohammedanism,  as  a  system,  is  vulnerable  through  science.  To  an 
educated  mind  there  are  in  it  puerilities,  absurdities,  glaring  inconsistencies. 
Education  lays  these  bare,  and  thus  prepares  the  way  for  the  consideration 
of  another  faith. 

Contact  with  Moslem  minds,  so  difficult  through  other  means,  is  in  a 


i 


22 

measure  possible  through  education.  Scripture  truth  may  be  inculcated  in 
connection  with  science,  and  this  when  youthful  minds  are  most  susceptible 
to  impressions.  The  Moslem  children  in  our  schools  are,  as  yet,  not  numer- 
ous, but  among  all  the  pupils  none  read  the  Bible  with  such  interest  as  they 
manifest. 

Considering  the  great  importance  of  gaining  a  hold  upon  the  Mohannnedan 
mind,  we  are  justified  in  setting  a  high  value  upon  this  almost  sole  means  of 
reaching  them,  especially  when  this  means  is  in  itseK  so  hopeful. 

Secondly.  Among  the  Druzes. — These  people  are  eager  to  have  their  children 
taught.  They  prize  education  as  a  means  of  power  and  influence.  They 
despair  of  again  recovering  by  the  sword  the  position  they  once  held  in  society 
by  means  of  it,  and  turn  now  to  education.  They  have  confidence  in  us  as  they 
have  in  no  other  sect,  and  willingly  place  their  children  in  our  hands.  Either 
clanishness,  or  some  peculiar  power  in  a  secret  religion,  bars  their  liearts  to 
the  direct  approaches  of  the  Gospel ;  but  through  education  a  wide  and  ef- 
fectual door  is  opened  for  access  to  their  minds  and  consciences. 

Tliirdly.  Among  thenominalhj  Christian  Sects. — Their  state  is  characterized  by 
ignorance  of  the  religion  they  profess,  except  in  its  outward  forms,  ignorance 
of  the  Bible,  and  of  the  history  of  the  Chur-ch  ;  Avhile  suj)erstition  and  priest- 
craft have  thus  free  scope  to  mould  the  heart  and  life,  and  ruin  the  soul. 

Enlightenment,  both  in  science  and  in  rehgion,  the  disinthralment  of  mind 
from  its  bondage,  and  ttie  revelation  of  truth  in  all  its  aspects,  are  the  indis- 
pensable means  for  rescuing  those  thus  having  a  name  to  live,  while  yet  they 
are  dead.  We  reach  many  of  this  people  directly  by  our  preaching.  We 
reach  more  through  our  schools,  and  some  of  them  we  could  never  reach 
at  aU  but  through  this  means. 

In  regard  to  the  Ar^abic-speaking  races  in  Syria,  it  may  be  affirmed  of 
them,  as  a  whole,  that  they  are  eminently  capable  of  receiving  instruc- 
tion ;  their  minds  are  quick  and  retentive.  Labor  spent  upon  them  is  not 
expended  upon  a  people  few  in  number,  and  feeble  in  influence.  Syria,  en- 
lightened, is  fitted  by  its  position,  its  language,  and  the  character  of  its  peo- 
ple, to  become  the  teacher  of  vast  numbers  of  the  human  race. 

11.    What  has  already  been  done  here  in  the  ivay  of  Education. 
(1.)  By  the  American  Board. 

(a)  Common  Schools. — When  the  missionaries  of  the  Board  arrived  here, 
more  than  forty  years  ago,  there  was  almost  a  total  dearth  of  books  and  of 
readers.  Great  obstacles  had  to  be  surmounted  in  order  to  the  introduction 
of  a  few  schools  into  the  land.  At  first,  only  reading  and  writing  were 
taught,  as  there  was  little  demand  for  more  than  these,  and  teachers  capa- 
ble of  teaching  higher  branches,  were  wanting. 

These  schools  were  commenced  in  Beirut,  then  pushed  into  the  adjacent 
portions  of  Mt.  Lebanon,  then  into  other  cities  of  the  coast,  and  of  the  inte- 


23 

rior,  and  they  have  raised  up  a  great  body  of  readers,  capable  of  perusing 
and  understanding  the  Word  of  God.  They  have  stimulated  other  sects  to 
open  schools  in  rivalry,  have  awakened  a  desire  for  learning,  have  caused  a 
demand  for  books  of  all  kinds,  and  for  newspapers  and  magazines,  and  for 
higher  schools  and  seminaries  of  learning.  Many  educated  in  these  schools 
have  been  converted,  have  become  members  of  our  churches,  teachers  in  other 
schools,  preachers  to  their  countrymen. 

Around  these  schools  have  clustered  Protestant  communities.  Their 
influence  has  pervaded  all  other  sects,  and  raised  the  standard  of  knowledge 
in  all. 

Without  them,  it  is  hard  to  conceive  how  Protestantism  could  have  gain- 
ed an  entrance  into  many  parts  of  the  land.  With  them,  it  has  gained  a  strong 
hold  upon  the  reason  and  conscience  of  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Syria. 

All  honour,  therefore,  to  the  common  schools,  which  have  been  for  so  many 
years  a  source  of  blessing  to  the  people  of  this  land !  Honour  to  those  who 
established  them,  to  those  who  supported  them,  and  those  who  have  taught 
in  them! 

(b)  Tlie  Abeih  Seminary. — The  institution  now  bearing  this  title  was  JEirst 
established  iu  Beirut.  It  was  intended  for  the  raising  up  of  teachers  and 
preachers,  and  has  occupied  a  large  place  in  the  interest  and  care  of  the 
Mission.  For  a  time  no  small  amount  of  the  strength  of  the  Mission  was 
expended  upon  it ;  its  standard  of  education  was  very  high,  and  its  gradu- 
ates were  among  the  most  highly  educated  scholars  in  the  land. 

For  various  reasons  the  standard  of  education  was  gradually  lowered  ; 
and  prominent  among  these  reasons  was  the  fact  that  the  Mission  failed  to 
secure  the  object  originally  aimed  at,  to  raise  up,  by  its  means,  pastors  for 
the  native  churches,  the  young  men  turning  aside  to  other  pursuits;  and 
more  latterly,  the  establishment  of  the  Syrian  Protestant  College  has  render- 
ed unneccessary  the  teaching  here  of  the  higher  branches  of  knowledge. 

Most  of  the  teachers  of  oui"  schools,  and  religious  instructors  in  the  vari- 
ous congregations,  are  graduates  of  this  institution. 

The  study  of  the  Scriptures  has  been  a  prominent  object  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Seminary,  and  this  branch  of  study  has  always  been  conducted  by  a 
member  of  the  Mission,  and  remains  so  until  this  day. 

Until  within  a  short  time,  a  part  of  the  instruction,  literary  as  well  as  re- 
ligious, was  given  by  a  missionary,  and  the  government  was  administered  by 
him  ;  but  of  late  other  duties  have  devolved  upon  this  missionary  [Rev.  S. 
H.  Calhoun],  and  he  has  been  obliged  to  entrust  the  literary  instnictions 
and  the  government  into  the  hands  of  native  teachers,  retaining,  however,  a 
general  superintendence  over  the  whole,  and  giving  daily  religious  instruc- 
tion, as  heretofore. 

The  applicants  for  free  admission  far  exceed  the  number  which  the  means 
at  the  disposal  of  the  institution  allows  it  to  receive.  Several  of  the  pupils 
pay  a  moderate  sum  for  their  expenses. 


24 

(c)  TJie  Syrian  Protestant  College. — Thisjs  an  outgrowth  of  missionary 
labor  in  Syria,  Missionary  instmction  created  a  demand  for  it.  The  plans 
and  prayers  and  labors  of  missionaries  established  it.  The  friends  of  mis- 
sions endowed  it.  Its  aim,  and  that  of  other  missionary'  labor,  are  one — the 
enlightmeut  and  salvation  of  the  Arabic  speaking  race. 

This  institution  is  stiU  in  its  infancy,  but  its  influence  is  already  widely  felt, 
in  creating  a  demand  for  general  education,  in  raising  the  standard  of 
thought,  and  in  stimulating  other  sects  to  enlarge  and  elevate  their  schools 
of  learning.  It  has  sent  forth  two  classes  of  graduates,  most  of  whom  are 
now  actively  employed  in  the  service  of  the  IMission. 

It  commands  the  confidence  of  the  missionaries,  and  has  their  best  wish- 
es, their  prayers,  and  their  efforts,  for  its  success.  The  Medical  Department 
of  the  College  is  an  able  auxiliary  to  the  missionary  work,  and  its  manifest 
benefits,  through  its  clinique  and  hospital  practice,  are  a  powerful  argument 
in  favor  of  the  religious  system  which  sustains  it. 

(d)  Female  Education. — When  the  missionaries  came  to  Syria  it  Avas  an  al- 
I  most  unheard-of  thing  for  a  woman  to  read  and  write.  It  was  argued  that 
I  to  teach  her  would  tend  to  the  disruption  of  society,  to  th.e  disorganization 
\of  society,  to  the  unsesing  of  woman. 

For  a  number  of  years,  girls  were  adopted  into  the  families  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  there  trained  and  educated.  Gradually  they  have  entered  the 
common  schools  and  studied  with  the  boys,  yet  they  still  constitute  but  a 
small  muiority  of  the  pupils.  In  some  places  day  schools  have  been  opened 
*^  exi)ressly  for  them,  taught  by  female  teachers,  and  these  have  been  well  at- 
tended. 

For  maiiy  years  the  Mission  have  sustained  in  Beirut  a  Female  Boarding 
School,  to  which  much  labor  and  expense  have  been  devoted.  At  one  time 
a  missionary  and  his  family  were  detailed  to  its  care,  then  it  was  given  in 
I  charge  to  young  ladies  fi'om  America.  The  experiment  of  conducting  it  by 
means  of  native  teachers  was  tried,  and  for  five  years  proved  successful,  but 
circumstances  have  combined  to  render  a  return  to  the  pi*evious  plan  a  ne- 
cessity, and  it  is  now  under  the  care  of  American  ladies,  with  the  best  na- 
tive assistants. 

Changes  have  been  made  in  it,  of  late,  to  suit  the  advanced  stage  of  civi 
lization  and  education  in  Beirut,  introducing  the  study  of  European  lan- 
guages, and  the  practice  of  instrumental  music  ;  also,  in  giving  it  a  perma- 
nent home  in  buildings  erected  expressly  for  its  accommodatian,  and  in  en- 
deavoring to  make  it  self-supporting. 

This  institution  stands  high  in  the  regard  of  the  community  and  the  Mis- 
sion, and  is  a  powerful  auxiliary  to  the  missionary  work. 

[The  support  of  the  Beii'ut  Female  Seminary  has  been  wholly  assumed 
by  the  "Ladies'  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,"  New 
York.] 

The  mission  has  sustained  for  about  eight  years  another  Female  Boarding 
School  in  Sidon. 


25: 

This  is  intended  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  people  who  do  not  come  into 
contact  with  Eui'opean  tastes  and  refinement.  It  is  supported  by  the  funds 
of  the  Mission,  except  that  the  salary  of  the  principal  teacher,  Miss  Jacombs, 
an  EngUsh  lady,  is  paid  by  a  society  of  ladies  in  England. 

This_school  is  purely  a  missionary  institution.  Its  plan  is  to  teach  only 
girls  from  Protestant  families,  the  best  pupils  of  the  common  schools,  with  a 
view  to  theu'  being  directly  useful  hereafter  as  teachers  and  helpers  in  the 
missionary  work. 

All  the  stations  have  a  right  to  send  pupils,  and  of  those  now  in  atten- 
dance some  have  come  from  the  extreme  borders  of  the  field.  Being  purely 
a  mission  school  and  its  pupils  Protestants,  there  is  here  the  best  opportuni- 
ty for  thorough  rehgious  instruction  in  connection  with  mental  and  social  cul- 
tui*e,  and  its  success  realizes  fully  the  expectations  of  its  friends.  Like  the 
Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary  in  Axnei'ica,  the  household  labor  aU  devolves  upon  the 
pupils.  The  Beunit  and  Sidon  schools  for  girls  have  both  their  spheres  ; 
neither  interferes,  nor  renders  the  other  unnecessary. 

[The  support  of  the  Sidon  Female  Seminai-y  has  been  wholly  assumed 
by  the  "  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Presbyterian  Chui'ch," 
Philadelphia.] 

This  outhne  comprises  most  of  what  has  been  done  by  the  American 
Board  in  behalf  of  education  in  Syria.  To  it  maybe  added,  of  general  work, 
the  prepai-ing  and  pubhshing  of  reading  books  and  primers;  of  two  arithme- 
tics, of  lower  and  higher  grades;  of  tw;o  geograj)hies,  a  grammar,  a  work  on 
logic,  and  another  on  rhetoric,  an  algebra  and  geometry ;  and  the  preparing 
of  manuscript  works  in  natural  philosophy  and  astronomy.  Recently,  in 
[connection  with  the  College,  works  on  physiology,  botany,  chemistry  and 
natural  history  have  been  published.  A  monthly  rehgious  paper  has  also 
been  issued  from  our  press  for  about  four  years  past.  [Recently  changed  to 
a  weekly.] 

(2.)  By  other  Protestant  Agencies. 

Other  Protestant  agwicies  during  late  years,  have  co-operated  with  the 
American  missionaries  in  their  educational  efibrts.  Most  of  these  have  been 
enhsted^haff;ever,  in-feehalf  of  fernales. 

Mrs.  Watson,  an  English  lad3%  opened  a  school  for  girls  in  Beirut  in  1856 
which  has  since  been  transferred  to  Mt.  Lebanon. 

Mrs.  Bowen  Thompson  opened  schools  in  Beirut  in  1861.  These  are  still 
continued,  and  have  beon  extended  to  four  places  in  Mt.  Lebanon,  to  Dam- 
ascus, and  to  Hasbeiya. 

Miss  Hicks  and  Miss  Dobby,  young  ladies  sent  out  by  a  Woman's  Society 
in  England,  have  a  school  for  girls  at  Shiralan  on  Mt.  Lebanon, 
v     Mr.  Elias^uleiby,  aided  by  friends  in  Scotland,  mostly  in  connection  with 
the  Free  Church,  has,  for  ten  or  twelve  ye.irs  past,  conducted  schools  in  a 
part  of  Mt.  Lebanon,  and  also,  latterly,  in  the  Buka'a. 


H 


26 

The  Established  Church  of  Scotland  has  a  scliool  for  Jews  in  Beirut,  con- 
ducted by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Robertson. 

The  Prussian  Deaconesses,  in  18()1,  established  an  institution  in  Beirut, 
partly  for  orphans,  and  partly  for  paying  pupils. 

Mr.  Butrus  Bistany,  a  native  Protestant  of  Beirut,  has,  for  about  six  years 
past,  conducted  a  flourishing  school  for  boys  in  that  city. 

In  the  same  place,  Miss  Taylor,  of  England,  has  also  conducted,  for  the 
past  two  years,  a  day  school  for  Moslem  girls. 

This  comprises  mainly  what  has  been  done  within  the  limits  of  our  field 
in  Syria,  in  behalf  of  education. 

in.  Has  not  the  ivork  of  Education  been  brought  so  far  forwardby  the  Mlsaion, 
or  have  not  other  agencies  arisen  so  capable  of  carrying  it  on,  that  the  Mission  can 
now  luifh  propriety  ivitkdraw  from  it  and  engage  in  other  ivork  ? 

To  this  question  it  may  be  replied  briefly  — 

The  Mission  would  find  it  difficult  to  act  in  many  places,  but  tlnough 
schools.  Long  as  the  Gospel  has  been  preached  in  Syria,  there  are  still 
extensive  districts  in  mountain  and  plain,  where  prejudice  and  the  power 
of  the  clergy  have  kept  out  the  light.  New  fields  are,  therefore,  constantly 
to  be  occupied — schools  are  the  entering  wedges..  They  fui'nish  au  occasion 
for  the  presence  of  a  missionary,  and  give  an  opportunity  for  the  exerting  of 
influence.  The  school  teacher  by  day,  becomes  a  preacher  for  aciults  in  the 
evening,  and  on  the  Sabbaths,  and  the  school-rooms  are  thus  the  nuclei  of 
churches. 

Again,  the  Mission  and  all  other  agencies  combined,  fail  now  to  meet  the 
wants  of  the  field.  The  demand  for  schools  and  teachers  is  greater  than 
the  supply.  How  would  it  be  if  the  largf-r  source  of  supply  should  be 
withdrawn  ? 

Again,  these  other  agencies  act  only  at  or  near  certain  centres.  The  ai-ea 
of  their  influence  is  limited,  reaching  but  little  beyond  Beirut  and  a  part  of 
Mt.  Lebanon.  The  mission  schools  are  extended  widely  through  our  whole 
field —  north,  south,  east  and  west.  To  leave  these  other  agencies  to  act 
alone,  would  be  to  leave  the  greater  part  of  the  land  without  schools. 

And,  moreover,  it  would  be  impossible  for  those  not  engaged  in  the  miss- 
ionary work  to  make  their  schools  as  directly  auxiliary  to  the  work  of  the 
Gospel,  as  would  the  Mission,  whose  aim  in  conducting  these  schools  is  to 
further  their  plans  in  raising  up  self-supporting  Christian  churches  and 
communities. 

For  these  reasons,  as  well  as  others,  the  Mission  would  find  itself  crippled, 

thwarted,  embarrassed,  in  its  action,  if  it  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  work 

I  of  education,  and  to  leave  it  to  others.     Much  ef  it  would  certainly  be  left 

'  undone,  as  there  are  not  agencies  on  hand  prepared  to  assume  it,  and  the 

cause  of  Christ  would  inevitably  suffer. 


27 

rV.  If  the  Mission  continue  the  work  of  Edw^ation  can  thry  prop'rhj  continue  it 
on  the  same  system  and  the  same  scale  a>t  they  have  done  heretofore? 

Unquestionably  the  answer  to  this  must  be  in  the  negative. 

First.  In  regard  to  common  schools. — There  is  a  demand  for  a  laiye  increase 
in  their  number,  particularly  among  the  Druzes.  We  could  properly  occupy 
many  additional  fields  of  much  promise,  had  we  the  means.  Appeals  from 
various  quarters  have  come  to  us  which  we  have  been  compelled  to  re- 
fuse. 

There  is  also  a  demand  for  the  elevation  of  the  standard  of  many  of  these 
schools.  That  which  met  the  wants  of  the  field  twenty  years  ago,  does  not 
meet  it  now.  Syria  has  made  vast  strides  forward  Avithin  a  few  years,  and 
our  common  school  system  should  move  forward  in  correspondence. 

It  is  time  to  commence  a  revision  of  the  whole  plan  of  these  schools ;  to 

]  remodel  them,  as  far  as  possible,  according  to  modern  ideas;  to  introduce  a 

',  uniform  programme  of  studies ;  to  employ  as  a  whole  a  higher  grade  of 

teachers,  with  new  checks  and  responsibilities.     Thus  increased  in  number, 

and  newly  organized,  their  power  might  be  augmented  many  fold,  as  an 

agency  in  restoring  to  Syria  a  true  Christianity. 

There  might  with  advantage  be  added  to  the  mission  force  a  superintend- 
ent of  common  schools,  able  properly  to  visit  and  I'egulate  them  in  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  land. 

Secondly.  In  regard  to  Abeih  Seminary. — The  Mission  need  for  the  conduct 
of  their  schools  a  greater  number  of  teachers  than  they  can  reasonably  ex- 
pect to  obtain  from  among  the  graduates  of  the  College.  Not  all  of  these 
schools  require  teachers  of  so  high  a  grade.  It  is  not  enough  that  these 
teachers  should  be  apt  scholars :  they  need  also  to  be  made  apt  teachers.  A 
system  should  be  adopted  here,  corresponding  to  that  of  the  Normal  Train- 
ing schools  in  other  countries,  so  that  the  graduates  may  carry  into  effect  in 
the  common  schools  what  they  have  learned,  and  thus  give  them  new  life  and 
efficacy. 

This  involves,  besides  the  training  of  the  regular  pupils  in  the  best  modes 
of  imparting  knowledge,  the  assembling  in  Abeih,  for  two  or  three  months 
in  the  year,  of  the  teachers  already  engaged  in  teaching,  and  the  drilling 
of  them  with  a  special  course  of  training  in  the  art  of  instructionT 

These  educational  institutions,  combined  with  our  printing-press  and  our 

native  agency,  are  the  channels  through  which  your  missionaries  can  bring 

ght  and  blessing  to  the  people.     Ihey  are  the  complement  of  our  force — 

our  machinery.     They  bring  to  our  hands  the  material  upon  which  we  are 

to  work,  and  help  us  to  mould  it. 

We  can,  therefore,  cordially  commend  the  work  of  Education  in  Syria  to 
the  prayers  and  sympathies  of  the  friends  of  Christ  at  home,  as  being  one 
of  the  means  of  undermining  the  fortress  of  error  here,  and  establishing  the 
truth ;  and  if  they  desire  to  give  new  impulse  to  this  work,  and  to  push  it 


\  n 


28 

forward  with  greater  vigor,  they  will  find  us  prepared  to  second  their  efforts 
heartily,  hopefully,  and  vigorously,  being  assured  that  thus  the  day  of 
Christ's  triumph  wlU  be  brought  nearer — the  hour  of  Syria's  redemption 
will  be  hastened. 


The  above  report  seems  exhaustive  on  this  subject.  It  may  be  noted,  how- 
ever, that  the  number  of  common  schools  now  in  operation  under  mission 
auspices  is  about  fifty  ;  many  of  them  are  large  and  flourishing ;  the  attend- 
ance in  some  ranging  as  high  as  a  hundred. 

Again,  under  the  same  general  head  of  a  "  Statement  of  ProgTess  up  to 
the  Present  Time,"  we  mention  also  : 

3.  Press-work. — Through  the  scholarly  labors  of  Dr.  Eli  Smith,  and  Dr. 
Van  Dyck,  we  have  one  of  the  most  accurate  and  beautiful  translations  of 
_the^criptures  to  be  found  in  any  language,  and  many  thousand  copies  in 
some  six  or  eight  different  styles  have  been  issued.  Several  editions  are 
now  electrotyped.  The  voweled  edition  of  the  entire  Bible,  just  issued,  is 
regarded  as  the  finest  book  in  the  Arabic  language,  and  the  Scriptures  can 
now  be  given  to  the  Mohammedan  world  free  from  a  favorite  objection, 
namely,  that  they  were  unvoweled,  and,  consequently,  iucomplete.  Some 
sixty  works  of  a  religious  and  educational  character  have  been  published. 
Text  books  for  the  College  are  either  already  issued,  or  well  advanced  in 
preparation,  by  the  Professors  ia.  their  various  departments.  The  Theologi- 
cal Professors  are  also  prepaiing  text-books. 

__  A  weekly  religious  newspaper  is  issued,  which  has  its  regular  roll  list  of 
over  a  thousand  subscribers. 

A  monthly  illustrated  paper,  specially  for  the  children,  has  just  been  com- 
menced. In  reference  to  this  new  enterprise  of  a  children's  paper,  the  Annual 
Keport  of  the  Mission  for  the  past  year  reiparks  :  "It  was  once  thought  an 
impossibility  to  bend  the  stiffness  of  written  Arabic  so  as  to  adapt  it  for  a 
newspaper,  even  for  adults,  without  shocking  the  tastes  of  all  Arabic  scholars, 
but  the  contact  of  the  West  with  the  East  has  so  changed  ideas  and  render- 
ed plastic  old  incrustations,  that  no  one's  prejudices  are  shocked,  while  the 
stately  Arabic  has  been  made  to  bend  to  a  child's  comprehension  in  a  child's 
newspaper.  The  secular  newspapers  of  Beirut  have  done  much  to  under- 
mine the  pedantrj'  of  Arabic  literatui'e,  and  to  prepare  the  people  to  accept 
a  written  language  somewhat  conformable  to  the  spoken  tongue."  An  ad- 
ditional building  for  the  uses  of  the  press  has  just  been  erected.  It  is  a 
handsome  structure,  standing  side  by  side  with  the  mission  church,  with 
which,  in  external  aspect  and  beauty  of  design,  it  is  fully  in  keeping.  It 
is  to  be  used  also  as  a  Bible  House,  and  contains  besides  a  large  room  which 
can  be  used  as  a  lecture-room  to  the  church. 

A  bindery  and  a  lithographic  press  have  been  recently  added  to  the  press 
establishment.      A  new  Adams  Steam  Press  wiU  soon  be  on  its  way  to  Syria 


U.I 


J 


29 

to  supplement  the  two  (one  an  "  Adams,"  and  the  other  a  *'  Hoe,")  which 
are  now  well  worn  by  long  service.  The  piiating  which  is  done  at  the  mis- 
sion press  is  universally  regarded  as  the  most  elegant  and  tasteful  specimen 
of  Ai-abic  typography  to  be  found  in  the  world.  A  few  years  ago,  Dr.  Van 
Dyck  superintended  the  preparation  of  an  entu'ely  new  font  of  tyjDe,  which, 
in  neatness,  cleai-ness,  and  beauty  of  style,  was  a  great  improvement  upon 
all  other  kinds.  The  great  printing  presses  of  Germany,  recognizing  its  su- 
perior excellence,  have  recently  thrown  aside  the  old  fonts  of  Arabic  type 
whi  h  they  have  been  accustomed  to  use,  and  have  sent  to  Beirut  for  ma- 
trices of  the  new  type.  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  also 
adopted  it. 

Dr.  Van  Dyck  fills  the  position  of  Editor  and  Literary  Superintendent  of 
"  The  Press,"  while  the  business-management  is  under  the  superintendence 
of  Mr.  Samuel  HaUock,  whose  efficient  services  are  highly  valued  by  the 
Mission. 

As  a  summary  of  what  has  been  done  through  the  press  by  the  American 
Missionaries,  it  may  be  stated  : 

1.  They  have  translated  the  entire  Bible,  and  it  is  now  issued  in  many 
editions,  either  complete  or  in  parts.  An  edition  of  the  Gospels  in  raised 
Arabic  characters,  is  also  issued  for  the  blind,  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Mott, 
a  benevolent  English  gentleman. 

2.  They  have  prepared  and  pubhshed  some  sixty  works  both  rehgious 
and  educational  in  their  character. 

3.  They  edit  and  publish  a  weekly  religious  journal,  which  has  a  large 
and  constantly  increasing  subscription  roll  throughout  Syria  and  Egypt,  also 
a  children's  monthly. 

Among  the  religious  works  already  issued  from  the  Syria  Mission  press 
in  Beirut,  are  the  following  ;  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Edwards'  His- 
tory of  Redemption,  Nevins  on  Popery,  Bird's  Letters  on  Romanism, 
Alexander's  Evidences  of  Christianity,  Guide  to  Scripture  Study,  (048  pp.,) 
Office  and  Work  of  the  Holy  Sphit,  Hymn  Book,  (200  pp.,)  Book  of  Social 
and  Family  Prayer,  Imitation  of  Christ,  Rehgious  Story  Book  for  Child- 
ren, (Illustrated,)  Bogatzky's  Golden  Treasury,  Newman  Hall's  Tracts, 
Catechisms  large,  and  small,  and  with  proofs,  several  Scripture  Question 
books,  and  many  pamphlets,  sermons,  tracts,  etc.  There  are  now  in  manu- 
script, ready  for  the  press ;  A  Concordance  of  the  Bible,  Mosheim's  Church 
History,  Harmony  of  the  Gospels,  with  notes  by  Rev.  Mr.  Calhoun. 

Two  native  converts  of  the  Syria  Mission,  Drs.  Meshakah  and  Worta- 
et,  have  also  written  able  works  which  have  been  published. 

In  course  of  preparation  is  a  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,  also  a  work  on 
Systematic  Theology,  and  Commentaries  on  the  Pentateuch  and  Gospels. 

Among  the  educational  works  issued  at  the  mission  press,  though  not 
always  at  mission  expense,  may  be  mentioned ;  a  Geometry  and  Trigon- 
ometi-y,    an    Algebra,     Arithmetics,     Geographies,     Grammars,     Reading 


30 

Books  of  higher  and  lower  grade,  a  work  on  Logic,  another  on  Rhetoric, 
also  one  on  Natural  History,  some  medical  works  on  Anatomy,  Physio- 
logy and  Plygiene,  a  Chemistry,  a  Botany,  and  an  Atlas  of  the  World. 
In  manuscript  are  a  Natnral  Philosophy,  an  Astronomy,  and  a  work  on 
Moral  Science. 

A  leai-ned  native  convert,  Mr.  Bistany,  is  the  author  of  a  magnificent 
Dictionary  of  the  Arabic  Language  in  2  vols.  1200  pp.,  he  is  also  editor  of 
a  semi-weekly  newspaper,  and  a  semi-monthly  magazine,  devoted  to  science, 
literatui'e,  pohtics  and  general  information.  Both  are  published  at  Beirut, 
and  circulate  largely'  throughout  the  Orient. 

The  chiu'ch  at  home  cannot  fully  estimate'  the  labors  of  her  missionaries 
in  this  most  important  department,  the  preparation  of  a  religious  and  edu- 
cational literature.  Several  of  the  most  important  educational  works  men- 
tioned above  have  been  recently  prepared  by  Professors  in  the  Syrian 
Protestant  College  at  Beirut,  Drs.  Bhss,  Van  Dyck,  Post  and  Wortabet. 

in. 

A    GLANCE   AT   THE   PRESENT  WOEKIN(J   CONDITION  AND    FUTURE   PROSPECTS    OF    THE 

MISSION. 

Much  has  been  said  which  anticipates  what  might  properly  be  said  under 
this  head,  and,  not  to  prolong  this  sketch  unduly,  we  w^ill  not  enlarge  upon 
what  is  already  found  in  these  pages.  The  hst  of  missionaries  at  present 
(March,  1872)  connected  with  the  Mission  and  their  respective  location  is  as 
follows  : 

Beirut  :  Eev.  Messrs.  Wm.  M.  Thomson,  D.D.,  C.  V.  A.  Van  Dyck,  M.D., 
D.D.,  Henry  H.  Jessup,  D.D.,  and  their  wives,  Miss  Eliza  D.  Everett,  Miss 
EUen  Jackson  and  Miss  Sophie  B.  Loring,  Mr.  Samuel  Hallock,  Sup't.  of 
Press. 

Tripoli  :  Rev.  Samuel  Jessup  and  his  wife.  Rev.  Oscar  J.  Hardin,  G.  B. 
Danforth,  M.  D.,  and  his  wife. 

Abejh  :  Rev.  Messrs.  S.  H.  Calhoun  and  Wm.  Bird,  and  their  wives. 

SiDON  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Wm.  W.  Eddy  and  Frank  A.  Wood,  and  their  wives, 
Rev.  James  S.  Dennis.  Supported  by  a  Woman's  Society,  of  the  English 
Chui'ch,  and  having  the  charge  of  Sidon  Female  Seminary,  Miss  Jacombs; 
and  Miss  Stainton. 

Under  appointment  for  Syria,  and  expecting  soon  to  sail,  Messrs.  W.  J. 
Cumming  and  Gerald  F.  Dale,  Jr. 


The  following  compose  the  Faculty  of  the  Syrian  Protestant  College  at 
Beirut,  including  the  Faculty  of  the  Medical  Department ;  Rev.  Daniel  Bliss, 
D.D.,  President,  Rev.  C.  V.  A.  Van  Dyck,  M.D.,  D.D.,  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Post, 
M.D.,  Rev.  D.  Stuart  Dodge,  M.A.,  Rev.  John  Wortabet,  M.D.,  Rev. 
Edwin  R.  Lewis,  M.D.,  Harvey  Porter,  B.A.,'  with  a  coi-ps  of  six  native 
tutors. 


31 

Concluding  Remarks. 

A  glance  at  the  future  of  the  mission  work  in  Syria  suggests  expansion, 
growth,  progress. 

We  have  hitherto  occupied  four  principal  stations.  We  must  now  enlarge 
the  circle  of  our  operations  and  make  another,  which  will  be  at  Zahley,  a 
large  town  of  10,000  inhabitants,  on  the  eastern  base  of  the  Lcbanons,  over- 
looking the  plain  of  Ccele-Syria,  or  the  Buka'a,  which,  with  its  many  and 
populous  villages,  is  to  be  the  outlying  field  of  the  Zahley  station.  i 

We  have  a  great  work  opening  for  us  among  the  Druzes,  who  are  friendly 
and  confiding.  They  regard  themselves  as  under  the  political  protection  of 
England,  and  should  political  complications  at  any  time  lead  them  to  a  nom- 
inal profession  of  Protestantism,  our  opportunity  would  be  most  favorable. 
New  missionaries  should  be  in  the  field  studying  the  language  and  prepar- 
ing to  enter  upon  this  special  work  with  the  Druzes, 

The  Mission  have  another  work  in  view,  for  which  they  desire  to  be  ever- 
in  readiness,  so  as  to  take  advantage  of  any  providential  openings  in  its 
favor,  and  that  is  the  evangelization  of  the  Bedouins  of  the  desert.  Their  L^ 
language  is  the  Arabic,  and^  of  course,  they  are  to  be  reached  by  those 
speaking  that  tongue.  They  are  professedly  Mohammedans,  and  yet  few 
of  them  know  anything  of  their  religion,  being  unable  to  read  the  Koran, 
and  rarely  hearing  respecting  its  teachings  from  one  who  understands  it. 
They  are  as  nearly  without  a  religious  faith  as  a  people  can  be,  and  yet  profess 
one.  Their  wajidering  life,  and  the  insecurity  among  them  of  person  and 
of  property,  make  their  instruction  in  the  Gospel  especially  difficult.  But 
Christ's  command  extends  to  even  these,  and  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
reaching  them  with  the  truth  are  not  iusurmoui>table.  The  points  of  con 
tact  between  the-Bedouins  and  the  Mission,  are  Hums  in  the  Tripoli  field,  and 
the  neighborhood  of  Banias  in  the  Sidon  field.  The  course  to  be  pursued 
for  their  evangelization  is  to  send  among  them  colporteurs,  men  of  wisdom 
and  experience  as  well  as  piety,  carrying  with  them  simple  remedies  for  -^ 
bodily  diseases,  and  aiming  to  heal  the  deeper  maladies  of  the  soul.  As 
fast  as  such  men  oifer  themselves,  they  should  be  commissioned  and  sent 
forth  at  once  into  this  field,  so  vast,  so  difficult,  so  neglected,  so  loudly  ap- 
pealing to  the  sympathies  of  all  who  love  Christ  and  weep  for  souls  perish- 
ing in  darkness. 

To  man  and  sustain  this  enlarged  work ;  to  guide  and  minister  to  the  , 
awakening  mind  of  Syria,  already  aroused  and  invigorated  by  academic  cul- 
ture, and  give  it  the  balance  of  a  strong  evangelical  bias  ;  to  counteract  the 
heinous  deceptions  and  vile  chicanery  of  Jesuitism  ;  to  deal  wisely  and  firmly 
with  Moslem  bigotry ;  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  persecuted  ;  to  preach 
the  simple,  living  Gospel ;  to  build  up  a  spiritual,  self  supporting,  witnessing 
church  ;  to  train  a  native  agency  of  pastors  and  teachers  ;  to  bring  Chris- 
tianity to  bear  upon  the  scandalous  aud  pitiful  social  degeneracy  of  the 
East ;  this  is  the  task  which,  with  its  appalling  responsibilities,  confrouts  a 


32 

feeble  band  of  missionaries  in  Syria.  Vei'ily  !  if  the  Spirit  of  God  be 
withheld,  our  task  is  a  hopeless  one. 

As  the  future  of  this  great  work  looms  up  before  us,  the  conviction  grows 
stronger  and  more  solemn  that  the  great  need  of  Syria  is  that  which  no 
human  wisdom  can  supply.  It  can  be  met  by  no  new  combination  of  forces  at 
home  or  on  the  field,  by  no  complication  of  the  machinery  of  missions,  nor 
by  indefinite  enlargement.  It  is  the  want  of  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  Syria  of  the  present  age  has  never  witnessed  the  mighty  manifestations 
of  His  presence.  Nothing  is  known  there  of  His  power  to  change  the  whole 
aspect  of  society,  and  to  pervade  all  hearts  with  a  sense  of  the  coming 
Judgment.  There  are  no  histories  nor  memories  of  such  a  work  to  which 
we  can  refer. 

Nothing  but  a  great  revival,  upheaving  the  deep  foundations  of  society, 
and  drawing  men  wholly  away  from  their  old  refuges  of  lies,  can  avail  to 
fuse  into  one  mass  elements  so  wholly  at  variance  with  one  another,  and  to 
bring  all  into  subjection  to  Christ. 

Therefore,  we  would  say  to  all  who  love  Syria  and  Avait  for  its  redemp- 
tion, withhold  what  you  will,  but  withhold  not  your  prayers  ;  nay,  rather 
besiege  the  throne  of  grace  unceasingly  for  a  return  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  a 
land  from  which  He  has  so  long  been  grieved  away.  We  would  name 
especially  these  petitions  : 

] . — For  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  upon  our  churches  and  native 
agents,  upon  educational  institutions,  upon  our  own  souls. 

2. — For  the  raising  up  of  a  native  pastorate  and  the  development  of 
NATIVE  AGENCIES.  We  are  aiming  and  planning  for  self-support.  Pray  that 
the  educated  young  men'  of  Syria  may  have  their  hearts  turned  to  the 
ministry,  and  that  the  whole  corps  of  our  native  assistants  may  be  inspired 
with  zeal  and  self-denying  consecration. 

3. — For  the  progress  of  religious  liberty  everywhere,  and  for  all 
CLASSES  IN  Syria.  A  converted  Moslem's  life  is  not  safe  for  an  hour  in  any 
Syrian  city.  Papal  persecution  is  still  bitter  and  grinding  in  many  parts 
of  the  country.     We  want  liberty  of  conscience. 

Dear  brethren,  in  the  name  of  that  Saviour  who  once  trod  the  coasts  of 
Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  was  transfigured  upon  Hermon,  we  ask  you  to  pray  for 
Syria,  that  He  may  again  visit  that  dark  land,  and  lay  His  hands  in  sjiirit- 
ual  healing  upon  the  sick  and  dying. 

And  there,  where  the  first  triumphs  of  Christianity  were  won,  may  the 
latter  day  glories  of  the  cross  eclipse  those  of  its  early  rising,  and  all  the  praise 
and  honor  be  given  to  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb 
for  evermore ! 


Syracuse,  N.   T. 
Stockton,  Calif. 


1 

DATE  DUE 

P'           — — 

._.^ 

■iiirriirr-"Ti-iTi 

-^f^ssmm^ 

•^sswsKianuBt 

' 

JUN1 

51994 

IIIM  i 

i^  IQQR 

jun  i 

y    la  J  J 

mn  *■ 

/)    '^i 

QL"  •     U 

"  2(iofi 

CAYLORO 

PRINTED  IN  U    «    * 

BW7157.2.D41 

A  sketch  of  the  Syria  mission  ... 


^M 

II 

m^^ 

i0i 

•^'m! 


wy 

^ 

w 

i< 

